LIVE 2011

So after literally hundreds of gigs, and nearly as many line-up changes, Keith decided to call it a day. But then in 2006 he reformed the band with new members Paul Johnson (drums), Robert Robinson (keyboards/vocals), Keren Gaiser (vocals/keyboards) and Clancy Ferrill (guitars). So from the band not having a 'real' keyboard player they now have two, but the real change to these ears is that they also now have two singers. This means that on numbers such as 'Seeing Stars (I & II)' they can utilize the strength of both, and they happily take turns at the front of the stage, while Keren takes the main role. Of the three albums to date, this is easily the best. The band are relaxed and happy onstage, and know exactly what they want to achieve with symphonic neo-prog that is inviting and easy to listen to without ever falling into the trap of being easy listening.

This is reminiscent of late Seventies Genesis, yet somehow in a more symphonic style, with stunning vocals throughout. Indeed, the only real question that has to be asked is why has this band never gained the acclaim they so richly deserve? Now based in the States, surely there are enough progheads over there to take this band to heart and provide the impetus for them to get out there, record a new studio album, and show everyone exactly what they are made of. Songs like 'As You Fall Asleep' are way more powerful on this album than on the studio version, imbued with new life and strength.

Based on what I can hear, Quasar are a much stronger band now than they were in the Eighties and deserve to be a name known by far more than just a few. For more details then visit their site at quasar.netne.net/ or their Reverb Nation store at www.reverbnation.com/store/store/artist_672607

"Sometimes, if you listen hard, the heavens are calling you, beckoning forth, to a dark star, where deep at its core, hidden the secrets of what we're here for."

Formed in the late 70's, Quasar is one of the original Neo-Prog bands. To date they have released only two studio albums, Fire In The Sky in 1982 and The Loreli in 1989. A brand new studio album is however in the making and has been in the pipeline for several years now (though no release date is set). One song on this 2011 live album, In The Grand Scheme Of Things, will presumably feature on that forthcoming album.

The sound of Quasar can favourably be compared to that of Landmarq under Tracy Hitchings. This is of course not surprising as the latter band has its roots in Quasar with several members of Quasar having went on to become members of Landmarq including Hitchings who did what is in my opinion her greatest vocal performance ever on The Loreli. In my opinion, Quasar is the better band and the present live album features most of their best songs. At first I was somewhat disappointed because of the absence of Tracy Hitchings distinctive voice, but once I got over that I started to appreciate the voice of the gorgeous Keren Gaiser in its own right. Then I saw the video clips on the bands ReverbNation page, and was charmed by Gaiser's stage presence and all-in performance. She is something of a young Prog goddess with all the right moves, and she also plays extra keyboards. When you see this you are going to want to hear and see more from this band.

Overall, these are strong performances of a strong set of songs from both of the band's two 80's albums with a focus on the excellent The Loreli material. Seeing Stars whose two parts originally appeared on Fire In The Sky and The Loreli respectively are here brought together into a longer suite. Some parts of the songs from Fire In The Sky (which had male lead vocals) are here sung by Robert Robinson who also is the main keyboard player. The alternating male and female vocals works to good effect. The band's founder Keith Turner plays bass, Greg Studley plays guitar, and Paul Johnson the drums.

The lyrical themes explored include space (Seeing Stars and Mission 14), nightmares (As You Fall Asleep...), myths & legends (The Loreli), and even politics (on the anti-war song Power In Your Hands). Tracy Hitchings' otherworldly vocal performance on The Loreli will never be matched, but these new live versions have other things going for them, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this as an introduction to this very good and terribly overlooked band. I am very happy to see that they still exist and play music today and this is very promising for the future. I'm looking forward to the band's new studio album and also hope for a live concert DVD in the future. I would certainly buy it!

UK band QUASAR was formed back in 1979, and is generally regarded as one of the lesser known bands in the so called neo progressive movement. They managed to record and release two albums, one in 1982 and one in 1989, and had at least three totally different line-ups in that period too. Then all went quite about this band, until they resurfaced as a US based band a few years ago. "Live 2011" is the second of two live albums they have released since then, and their first album featuring an all new, US based line-up.

The music on this album as well as their previous ones belongs in the neo progressive category. Melodic and accessible progressive rock, with a basis in the 1970's symphonic part of the progressive rock universe. The majority of the songs revolves around alternating gentle, slow or sparse movements, occasionally developing into arrangements richer in instrument textures with ones more pace-filled and energetic or richly layered, majestic constructions not based on an initial theme of a gentler or more sparse starting point. The band utilize the tonal ranges fairly well throughout to create both distinct and more subtle contrasts, and the guitars will occasionally add some darker toned impact riffs as well. Perhaps with less dramatic touches than some other neo progressive bands tend to opt for, but a sound and a style those who love the original neo progressive bands will find enticing. For just about the first time in the history of this band they have a decent recording quality on their material too.

I'll have to admit that on some occasions, I actually found some of the earlier versions of their compositions subtly more enticing, although the only song that gave me a strong and distinct impression of that nature was Power In Your Hands. Current vocalist Keren Gaiser is arguably a better vocalist as far as subtle details go, but on this particular song I found former vocalist Hatchings more dramatic and emotional delivery better suited to my personal taste. And while I'll be damned if I can expand upon it, I did think some of the other songs while overall coming across as improved in execution and performance perhaps have lost some minor dramatic edges on the way too. The one new track present on this disc does give promise for future studio albums by Quasar, a pleasant addition to their repertoire that I suspect might truly soar when recorded in a studio with it's gentle ballad slowly developing to more majestic and dramatic territories until a final dramatic eruption.

While I personally I find their second studio album "The Loreli" to be their most intriguing production so far, I'd recommend those unfamiliar with Quasar to start their inspection of the band with this live album due to an overall better recording quality on this more recent production. With those fond of neo progressive rock as it was made back in the 1980's as a likely key audience.

My final purposeful excursion into the Neo-Prog band that was there from the start, Quasar.

"Seeing Stars" (5 minutes longer than the studio version off Fire in the Sky) heads off low and slow, but fairly big. I'm not big into his vocals; it is what it is. Things pick up around minute 4 and do keep ascending. Drums are nice. Keys are bright and triumphant. Female vox take the helm around minute 5 with a new rhythm, led by light cymbals and bass. The thing is, it's just so dated.

Seeing its live representation, "Power in Your Hands" must be popular(?). It was big, and almost good... I'm just not into this sort of thing, I know. It's followed by "The Loreli", ominous and "in a shroud of mystery" haha. Half of it was pretty boring.

Then the track "As You Fall Asleep" must have been aware that I would be listening to this 10+ years later... haha. I will say, the guitar riff paired with the crashing of cymbals is pretty nice. It shifts into... decent... uh... rock opera for a split second haha. Then it's Prog, I think, finally(?!) haha. Again, half a bore, but then half, for the first time on the album, good Prog! Amy Grant's Christmas album from 1983 is more progressive, though, to be completely honest...

"In the Grand Scheme of Things" certainly was a song that existed! Nice hahaha. And finally, the closer, "Mission 14", the first track that I actually had on my main playlist from the original recording (again, Fire in the Sky). The synth-guitar lead/melody around 5:40 is awesome, at least. This ones a bit like CAMEL?! They just don't make epics like they used to, though, huh?

I found most was performed satisfactorily, but much of the sonic choices are hokey and have severely dated themselves. I know people love Neo-Prog, but I have never understood it.

True Rate: 2.5/5.0