Solstice - Sia (2020)

Solstice celebrate their fortieth anniversary in 2020 and, to commemorate the occasion, are releasing only their sixth studio album, though there have been a couple of ‘live’ albums as well to boost the numbers. They’re also marking the occasion by introducing a new vocalist, Jess Holland, who has really made her presence felt on the new album and, with all respect to the previous incumbent, Emma Brown, Jess is a far superior vocalist and her presence here has really re-energised the band, resulting in Sia ( Gaelic for ‘six’ ) being amongst the best work Solstice has ever done. Earlier in 2020, in an interview with VT, Solstice mainman Andy Glass, now the only member of the original line-up still with the band, stated he thought the forthcoming album would be Solstice’s finest, and he certainly has a point. All the way through this album, the songs are strong, the playing is excellent, there’s a delightful ‘feel’ to the music and the vocals of Jess Holland are a sheer delight.
Sia is an album where the songs are permeated with the calls to individual freedom and to conquer fear, which can clearly be heard, but also with the reminder of the responsibilities we owe to each other.
In summation, this is a really pleasing and satisfying album, easily up there with the best work Solstice have done. The whole album is punctuated with some exquisite harmonies and playing from a band who, down the years, have perhaps been unfairly overlooked. Maybe this new album will go some way towards rectifying the situation.