Solstice - MIRAGE 3.09 | 5 ratings | 2 reviews | 0% 5 stars (progarchives.com) Among the well-known bands emerging from the huge progressive movement in Quebec,Canada, there were some ''smaller'' names,which didn't achieved the huge success or big promotion of their native groups.Such kind of a band were SOLSTICE,an intially four- member group found in mid-70's by guitarist Daniel Lafrance,bassist Daniel Mathieu,clarinet player Michel Marineau (ex-member of another obscure group from Quebec,''Nebu'') and drummer Gilles Dozois.For their first album, entitled ''Mirage'' and released back in 1978,the main composer was Daniel Lafrance.So it is reasonable the album to have many guitar excursions and solos around and Lafrance has done it very well on his section...but do not expect an explosive sound or massive interplays.''Mirage'' maintains a generally soft atmosphere throughout met in early WEATHER REPORT or even UK jazz rockers NUCLEUS,but it holds also a great introduction to the use of clarinet by Marineau,as he has a lot of space in the album for improvisational solos and smooth interplays with the rhythm section.It is quite surprising that SOLSTICE do not use any keyboards at all,yet their jazzy proposal has a deep and mature sound.The funky bass lines of Mathieu reminds me these of fellow compatriots UZEB,while drummer Gilles Dozois insists on a consistent yet steady playing without any dynamic changes.The result is a typical example of good-executed Jazz Rock with no risks but a qualitive performance overall.Recommended and strongly aiming on the Jazz-Fusion Rock audience.
Review by
psarros http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=31640
Solstice - ESPRESSO 3.14 | 3 ratings | 1 reviews | 0% 5 stars (progarchives.com) t's a little difficult to believe that the group was not aware of Gong's discography and their late- 70's albums, so I'm not sure why these guys also used it, but obviously, they didn't gain much by doing so, as unfortunately they never got much of an exposition. If you've read my review of their previous album, you might have noticed that I praised the absence of those late-70's synths that ruined many albums of the era. Well you can scrap that particular remark for this album, as there are quite a bit of keyboards, but unfortunately, often the ones I incriminate.
So Solstice's distinctive sound that might have given them an edge is now simply wiped from the table with Robillard's arrival with his wide array of keyboard instruments, although it's not as catastrophic as I might hint it to be. Indeed, if the general direction of a funky JR/F is preserved, the shift from guitars to keyboards (the former are not absent, though) make this album a fairly different beast, but the Solstice touch remains, despite the shorter track format (8 instead of 6). Actually I personally feel that the "songwriting" is probably superior on Espresso than in its predecessor, especially on the rather amazing Pas De Douze.
Not anymore essential than its predecessor Mirage, Espresso is relatively more energetic, with the funk element cranked at 11, instead of 5 or 6 in the Spinal Tap scale.
Review by
Sean Trane http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=31641 
