Troy Redfern – Astral Doorways
Troy Redfern, no stranger to the British blues rock scene with his highly individualistic brand of rockin’ Resonator roll and searing slide expertise, and not long off an exceptional, full band headliner set at the Upton Blues Festival, has, with the wholly instrumental Astral Doorways, delivered his most musically adventurous album to date.
The prog-fusion inspired Astral Doorways, where imagination is allowed to run unfettered and free (for both the artist and the listener) isn’t Redfern’s first instrumental album (a highlight of his deeper dive back catalogue includes the guitar led, multi-faceted Thunder Moon) but it is his most ambitious, daring and satisfying work.
Mixing art-rock tendencies with love letter moments (sub-consciously tapping into some of the greatest innovators of early 70s prog, jazz-rock and fusion, as well as eastern influences), Astral Doorways is a musical journey through aural space, where space-time grooves in 13/9, among other rhythmic signatures.
There is also an esoteric narrative, as can be gleaned by Troy Redfern’s track by track descriptions (found in the Vinyl & CD versions), where Ancient Egyptian Gods and Astronomyths tell the tale, and travels, of the transmutation of the soul and cosmic rebirth. Yeah, "my baby left me" blues rock this ain’t.
The aforementioned love letter nod is heard most prominently, and intentionally, on the title track, which opens the album in grand, sonic artscape fashion.
Some of the instrumentation and tonal sounds on the opening sequence of 'Suite: Astral Doorways' lean heavily on, but never directly borrow from (an important distinction) Frank Zappa in his early to mid-70s period, when mallet percussionist Ruth Undwerwod was part of the Zappa sound.
However as the piece progresses, and a spacey vibe is introduced (a musical mind-meld of fusion, eastern, prog-blues and psychedelically tinged, Vai-esque soloing) you realise that while numerous fingerprints are to be found here (and across the album, from Zappa/ Underwood to Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, Soft Machine, Al Di Meola at his most adventurous and many more) the music, and its creative, avant-garde approach, is very much part of Troy Redfern’s DNA.
Judicious and impressive use of Underwood styled mallet percussion then leads to a downtempo section where nylon string and piano (the latter at the compositional core of much of Astral Doorways) play over a rhythmic sway before an ethereal, otherworldly conclusion leads you through the first astral doorway to 'The Plains Of Zula.'
With mallets, drums, nylon string guitar and sprinkles of sci-fi synths setting the initial, contemplative tone, 'The Plains Of Zula' shifts to a short rhythmic march that, in turn, gives way to a delicate nylon string part.
The march then returns in a more regimented fashion, as the soul-spirit crosses the dusty, alien plains toward its eventual destination.
The rhythmically sharp 'Emanations' (the first of two short vignette pieces) leads quickly to the seven-minute 'Elysium In Parallax.'
The most sci-fi slanted of the tracks, 'Elysium In Parallax' features mallet percussion in the early going but broadens its sonic scope by incorporating various atmospheres and a staccato piano part that acts as the rhythm, while some seriously tasty guitar work plays atop (some of Troy Redfern's best and most inspired guitar play/ soloing is nestled within this album).
Further shifts of emphasis, along with a darker vibe, move the song along before a relaxed and woozy final sequence, with delicately interspersed lead guitar lines, close out the track.
'Dark Celestial' announces itself in an energetic, forty-five second burst of mallet percussion & drums before eastern prog meets jazz-rock tour-de-force 'The Fire Stones Of Areelia' takes centre stage.
A rhythmic, grooving and signature shifting astral journey in search of the alchemical Fire Stones (as depicted in Troy Redfern’s storyboarded Anime style video), this eight-minute, eastern flavoured piece, featuring solos on Turkish Saz, Coral Sitar, and 7-string Ibanez Universe guitar, encapsulates everything Astral Doorways is about.
The prog-fusion inspired Astral Doorways, where imagination is allowed to run unfettered and free (for both the artist and the listener) isn’t Redfern’s first instrumental album (a highlight of his deeper dive back catalogue includes the guitar led, multi-faceted Thunder Moon) but it is his most ambitious, daring and satisfying work.
Mixing art-rock tendencies with love letter moments (sub-consciously tapping into some of the greatest innovators of early 70s prog, jazz-rock and fusion, as well as eastern influences), Astral Doorways is a musical journey through aural space, where space-time grooves in 13/9, among other rhythmic signatures.
There is also an esoteric narrative, as can be gleaned by Troy Redfern’s track by track descriptions (found in the Vinyl & CD versions), where Ancient Egyptian Gods and Astronomyths tell the tale, and travels, of the transmutation of the soul and cosmic rebirth. Yeah, "my baby left me" blues rock this ain’t.
The aforementioned love letter nod is heard most prominently, and intentionally, on the title track, which opens the album in grand, sonic artscape fashion.
Some of the instrumentation and tonal sounds on the opening sequence of 'Suite: Astral Doorways' lean heavily on, but never directly borrow from (an important distinction) Frank Zappa in his early to mid-70s period, when mallet percussionist Ruth Undwerwod was part of the Zappa sound.
However as the piece progresses, and a spacey vibe is introduced (a musical mind-meld of fusion, eastern, prog-blues and psychedelically tinged, Vai-esque soloing) you realise that while numerous fingerprints are to be found here (and across the album, from Zappa/ Underwood to Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, Soft Machine, Al Di Meola at his most adventurous and many more) the music, and its creative, avant-garde approach, is very much part of Troy Redfern’s DNA.
Judicious and impressive use of Underwood styled mallet percussion then leads to a downtempo section where nylon string and piano (the latter at the compositional core of much of Astral Doorways) play over a rhythmic sway before an ethereal, otherworldly conclusion leads you through the first astral doorway to 'The Plains Of Zula.'
With mallets, drums, nylon string guitar and sprinkles of sci-fi synths setting the initial, contemplative tone, 'The Plains Of Zula' shifts to a short rhythmic march that, in turn, gives way to a delicate nylon string part.
The march then returns in a more regimented fashion, as the soul-spirit crosses the dusty, alien plains toward its eventual destination.
The rhythmically sharp 'Emanations' (the first of two short vignette pieces) leads quickly to the seven-minute 'Elysium In Parallax.'
The most sci-fi slanted of the tracks, 'Elysium In Parallax' features mallet percussion in the early going but broadens its sonic scope by incorporating various atmospheres and a staccato piano part that acts as the rhythm, while some seriously tasty guitar work plays atop (some of Troy Redfern's best and most inspired guitar play/ soloing is nestled within this album).
Further shifts of emphasis, along with a darker vibe, move the song along before a relaxed and woozy final sequence, with delicately interspersed lead guitar lines, close out the track.
'Dark Celestial' announces itself in an energetic, forty-five second burst of mallet percussion & drums before eastern prog meets jazz-rock tour-de-force 'The Fire Stones Of Areelia' takes centre stage.
A rhythmic, grooving and signature shifting astral journey in search of the alchemical Fire Stones (as depicted in Troy Redfern’s storyboarded Anime style video), this eight-minute, eastern flavoured piece, featuring solos on Turkish Saz, Coral Sitar, and 7-string Ibanez Universe guitar, encapsulates everything Astral Doorways is about.
Astral Doorways may be a sonic departure from Troy Redfern's more known blues rock but it’s a most welcome one, as well as opportunity to expresses his deep love and respect for this type of music, where space-rock and odd time signatures coalesce.
It’s also, unquestionably, his strongest and boldest offering to date, bolstered by a warm and well-balanced mix (the Vinyl & CD versions have their own individual mixes to provide the best audio experience for each format).
A solo album in every way (written, arranged, performed, produced and mixed by Redfern, who also painted the vividly striking cover and inlay artworks) Astral Doorways is art for creative art’s sake.
And every Ancient Egyptian God knows there’s not enough of that going around anymore.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Astral Doorways will be released on 30th October on Red7 Records on Red Vinyl in Gatefold Sleeve, Digipak CD, and Digital Download. It will also be available on streaming services.
Pre-order Vinyl and CD at: https://troyredfern.com/shop/
It’s also, unquestionably, his strongest and boldest offering to date, bolstered by a warm and well-balanced mix (the Vinyl & CD versions have their own individual mixes to provide the best audio experience for each format).
A solo album in every way (written, arranged, performed, produced and mixed by Redfern, who also painted the vividly striking cover and inlay artworks) Astral Doorways is art for creative art’s sake.
And every Ancient Egyptian God knows there’s not enough of that going around anymore.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Astral Doorways will be released on 30th October on Red7 Records on Red Vinyl in Gatefold Sleeve, Digipak CD, and Digital Download. It will also be available on streaming services.
Pre-order Vinyl and CD at: https://troyredfern.com/shop/