New Life by Solstice, a 1992 album.
New Life, the second studio album by Solstice, a British progressive rock band, was released in 1992, a full eight years after their debut Silent Dance from 1984.
In this edition, in addition to the original tracks from the studio record, the album includes songs written and performed live between 1983 and 1985, a period when the band was very active on stage.
Compared to the first album, the changes were radical. Andy Glass and Marc Elton remained the only original members.
Here are the main changes: Heidi Kemp replaced Sandy Leigh on vocals, bringing a much more energetic and powerful tone and stage presence. In the rhythm section, Craig Sunderland and Pete Hemsley took the place of Mark Hawkins and Martin Wright, giving the album a stronger, more dynamic sound, closer to the band’s live impact.
The Solstice lineup and setup for New Life therefore marked a real internal revolution, with an almost completely renewed line-up.
The album was recorded by a group of hugely talented musicians. Andy Glass, founding member and leader, played guitar, sang backing vocals and handled programming. Marc Elton, co-founder, contributed violin, keyboards and backing vocals. Heidi Kemp was the lead singer, while Craig Sunderland and Pete Hemsley played bass and drums respectively.
In the various reissues of the album, such as the 2007 one and the official 2026 remaster (the subject of this review), historic demo tracks, bootlegs and live recordings were added. These include appearances by guests and musicians tied to the band’s past. Barbara Deason sang backing vocals on the bonus tracks, while Ken Bowley, Mark Hawkins and Martin Wright played, respectively, bass and programming, bass and bass pedals, and drums on some historic bonus tracks.
The 2026 remaster also features recent live performances, recorded between 2023 and 2026, with the band’s current members: singer Jess Holland, violinist Jenny Newman, keyboardist Steve McDaniel and bassist Robin Phillips.
The original 1992 album was conceived as a studio album. However, its later reissues, including the 2026 remaster, feature a selection of live tracks as bonus material.
The original tracklist, 6 tracks recorded entirely in the studio:
1. Morning Light
2. Guardian
3. The Sea
4. New Life
5. Pathways
6. Journey
This new edition also includes 3 bonus tracks recorded entirely live with the band’s current lineup:
Morning Light (Live at The Stables, 2023)
Guardian (Live at the Cropredy Festival, 2023)
New Life (Live at Band on the Wall, 2026)
Note that the bonus tracks are on the CD version, or downloadable via a code for a free digital download with the vinyl edition.
The title “New Life” (“New Life”), first of all, celebrates the band’s rebirth after a long period of inactivity and lineup changes in the ’80s, a time not very favorable to progressive music. The CD reissue of their 1991 debut album rekindled public interest, prompting guitarist Andy Glass and violinist Marc Elton to reform the group with an almost completely renewed lineup. The 1992 album marked the start of a new chapter, a true artistic “new life”.
Thematically, “New Life” is a hymn to Solstice’s sunny, positive spirit, influenced by New Age culture and an ethic tied to nature and harmony. The lyrics often speak of spiritual rebirth, as in the closing track “Journey”, which opens with the line “From darkness comes the light”, a symbol of overcoming hardship. Songs like “Morning Light” celebrate the sun and the Earth’s right not to be destroyed by man, blending ecological awareness with inner peace. Finally, the title track “New Life” stresses the bond between band and audience with the line “You are the music, we are only the band”, expressing a philosophy that sees music as a shared experience of love, warmth and togetherness.
New Life is a key album in Solstice’s discography, able to fuse the complexity of progressive rock with a spiritual and eco-minded sensibility typical of hippie or new age culture.
The sound sits on the border between symphonic Neo-Prog and psychedelic folk rock.
The main influences are Renaissance (for the use of a female voice) and Yes. The album is marked by a constant interplay between Andy Glass’s crystalline lead electric guitar and Marc Elton’s violin, shaded with classical and jazz nuances.
Some of my favorite tracks:
“Morning Light”, the opening track, is an energetic piece in which new singer Heidi Kemp immediately shows the full power of her vocal range, backed by a sweeping guitar solo.
“Guardian” is the album’s real jewel. An epic suite of over 11 minutes that captures the band’s essence. It begins with sweet, meditative atmospheres and then blooms into a majestic instrumental crescendo with tight bass lines and fiery violin-guitar duels.
“Pathways” is one of the hardest, most rock-driven pieces Solstice ever recorded, where the band’s energy comes through directly. Gripping.
“Journey” is the monumental closing track. A musical tapestry that alternates intimate moments with bursts of pure rhythmic joy, perfectly embodying the album’s overall message of hope.
The bonus tracks, while keeping the original structure of the songs, offer a completely different sonic and performance experience compared to the 1992 studio version.
The most striking difference is the voice. Holland brings a different vocal approach, lighter and more contemporary, with support in some parts from backing singers Ebony Buckle and Gwen Taylor. In the bonus versions, the classic songs are reinterpreted by Solstice’s current lineup, adding unique shades: in place of original violinist Marc Elton’s classical/jazz touch comes Jenny Newman’s expressive folk violin. The original keyboard parts are revisited with synths and pianos by Steve McDaniel. The live performance with bassist Robin Phillips highlights the songs’ engaging soul, long a strong point of their concerts.
The bonus tracks have a rawer, warmer, more visceral sound, and include the crowd energy from prestigious venues, like the huge audience at the Cropredy folk-rock festival or the intimate atmosphere of The Stables club. Andy Glass’s guitar solos allow for wide improvisations, stretching or slightly altering the dynamics compared to the precise timings of 1992.
The recent remaster has also completely removed the old production limits, confirming the album as a magical, essential listen for fans of the genre and of this great band.
New Life is a small hidden classic of ’90s prog, with impeccable technical performances and an excellent chemistry between the musicians, an extraordinary ability to convey warmth, positivity and emotion—rare elements in the prog landscape. Excellent!
My Version
Label: Wild Thyme Records – WLTH010
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo, Turquoise Vinyl
Country: UK
Released: 19 Aug 2026
Tracklist
1 Morning Light
2 Guardian
3 The Sea
4 New Life
5 Pathways
6 Journey
Digital Download
7 Morning Light (Bonus Live Track)
8 Guardian (Bonus Live Track)
9 New Life (Bonus Live Track)
Lineup
Main Lineup (Original 1992 studio album)
Andy Glass – Guitar
Marc Elton – Violin and Keyboards
Heidi Kemp – Vocals
Craig Sunderland – Bass
Pete Hemsley – Drums
Guests
Barbara Deason – Vocals (backing)
Ken Bowley – Bass and Programming
Mark Hawkins – Bass
Martin Wright – Drums
Bonus Live Tracks Lineup
The three live tracks included in the 2026 Remaster feature the band’s contemporary lineup.
Andy Glass – Guitar
Jess Holland – Lead vocals
Jenny Newman – Violin
Steve McDaniel – Keyboards
Robin Phillips – Bass
Pete Hemsley – Drums
Ebony Buckle – Backing vocals
Gwen Taylor – Backing vocals
