SEED

Part of the endless list of bands around the Norwich area, Earthstone begun in mid-80's as a project around ex-Ranata Spirit's main leader Chris Phillips.He recruited another talented man of the underground British Prog scene, Silas (Ibey) keyboardist Chris Bond, but it wasn't until 1994, when their debut was released.Phillips plays all instruments and sings, while Bond was responsible for the some keyboards and all programmed parts of the album.Their album ''Seed'' saw the light through the US Kinesis label.

Both Phillips and Bond were involved in the 80's British Prog movement and their influences from this period are evident in Earthstone's album.Full of synth acrobatics, soaring guitar solos and extensive keyboard breaks, ''Seed'' lies in the territory of Neo Prog, although the sound is varied, often sparkled with light psychedelic touches and mainly Electronic-like textures.I really don't know, but the production kind of reminds me of these romantic days of raw, passionate Progressive Rock in the British islands, being quite average with clever technical flaws, otherwise the duo was apparently still rooted in this silver period of Prog music.The compositions are quite long, effective and tight with many variations and notable influences from TWELFTH NIGHT and PALLAS, although much-more keyboard-drenched, with expressive vocals, extended synthesizer leads and Electronic/symphonic orientations akin to QUASAR, STEVE HILLMAN and PROTOS.But the album lacks some serious melodies, being almost exclusively built around the changes in keyboard themes, the 80's-styled guitars and the extended, atmospheric, cinematic passages on dual synthesizers.The drum programming is below average and the album could have been really better with a real musician behind the drum kit.On the other hand, it still retains the deep lyricism of 80's groups in the vocal parts and this lovely sound of sensitive guitar lines, blended with powerful grooves and ongoing breaks of keyboard themes, is certainly attractive.

Officially Earthstone never really disbanded, but the fact was that Chris Bond moved on with his career, forming Stealing the Fire (in the only album of whom Glen Phillips also appears), while Phillips was also involved in later bands, such as Psychedelic/Space Rockers Iron Sun.

''Seed'' is a good, misplaced album of keyboard-filled Neo Prog.It could have been easily recorded and released during the first half of the 80's, a period in which stylistically ''Seed'' belongs.An under-the-radar lost work of cinematic and atmospheric Neo Prog, recommended to all fans of the style.