SIA by Solstice

SIA, by Solstice, a beautiful double LP album, released in 2020.

We talked about Solstice in the post dedicated to their latest, splendid work, Clann, released in 2025.

Nevertheless, this album reflects a magnificent musical style, full of passion, love, trust, hope, energy, and positivity, in every single track.

The violin is enchanting, the female vocals and choirs are the best you'll hear for intensity, precision, and interpretation, the drums and bass are amazing at capturing the groove in rhythms that are essential or complex when needed, and the guitar and keyboards give that vintage feel and breadth without which the songs wouldn't be the same.

- The song "Shout," the first track, is a masterpiece at 12 minutes, with a fantastic bass-drums rhythm section, the soft mood, and the sunny breadth typical of this band, transporting us to a beautiful atmosphere. The backing vocals and lead vocals are top-notch, as is the violin with its brief solo and the vintage-sounding keyboards. The second half is pure passion, with a main theme born from Jenny Newman's splendid violin and the female backing vocals becoming instrumental and introducing the splendid female lead vocals. Everything is refined in this piece. The bass creates a stripped-down rhythm, the drums are light and precise, a truly compelling guitar solo raises the song's emphasis, and thus the drums become more incisive... the backing vocal interlude is wonderful... after which the piece resumes, more decisive and complex, for a very brilliant close. Excellent composition. Magnificent piece.

- "Stand Up" is a breath of fresh air on a scorching day. The ingredients are the sexes, but the melody is dictated by a beautiful composition, and the chorus, reminiscent of the puff of a train, takes us on a journey. The violin is the melancholy of a thought as we gaze out the window, lost in our thoughts. The chorus is an affirmation of awareness and energy.

- "Seven Dreams" is an intriguing song, with its guitar accents over a beautiful bass-drum groove. The main theme and interpretation are magnificent, and the guitar solo is extraordinary.

Then there are four gems that awaken the senses and feelings.

- "Love Is Coming" and "Long Gone" feature acoustic guitar and violin, poems set to music sung by the splendid lead vocals, with light female backing vocals. You can literally feel that "love is coming," and you can literally sense that "it's gone"...

- Another semi-acoustic gem is "A New Day," an intimate, intense, and engaging song, a song that tells you in music... Come on! You can do it!

- Cheyenne then closes the album, it's the sum of all this with the addition of a finale that brings the Indian chants to dance to a tribal rhythm, driving the song to a rhythmic explosion, a perfect song and a perfect close to the album.

When I want to feel good, I immerse myself in a sea of ​​positive feelings and listen to Solstice.

I highly recommend them!

The Tracks

1. Shout (12:45)
2. Love Is Coming (6:28)
3. Long Gone (4:09)
4. Stand Up (6:13)
5. Seven Dreams (7:46)
6. A New Day (6:53)
7. Cheyenne 2020 (6:46)
Running Time: 51:00

Line-Up

- Andy Glass - guitar, vocals
- Jenny Newman - violin
- Pete Hemsley - drums
- Jess Holland - vocals
- Robin Phillips - bass
- Steven McDaniel - keyboards, vocals