Album review: ZON – Astral Projector/ORPHAN – Salute

Rock Candy [Release date 20.03.20]

ZON – Astral Projector + 4

The band members’ post Zon experiences are arguably more colourful than their brief, 2 album grab at fame and fortune. And yet, the 1978 debut, “Astral Projector” promised so much.

Often mentioned in the same breath as Styx, a real forensic examination of the band’s sound would more likely give up fellow Canadians, Saga, as Zon’s true musical blood brothers. Contemporary reviews were positive, highlighting the band’s ambitious merge of pop, pomp and prog. And arguably, the artfully shaped pomp of the lyrically challenging ‘Point Of View’, and the dramatic closing track, ‘Hollywood’ are as much influenced by the avant garde, sonic adventurism of the late sixties, as they were by the Progressive Rock of the seventies.

This remaster includes 4 bonus tracks. Subtly different alternative takes of ‘On The Road’ and the title track; the frenetic, previously unreleased ‘The Battle’, and the full, mind blowing version of ‘Hollywood’.

ORPHAN – Salute

Enduringly popular post Pumps’ Canadian band, Orphan released “Salute” in 1985, as a follow up to their best selling debut, “Salute The Night”. The programmed eighties’ production sound, favoured by US bands like Wang Chung, doesn’t always work here… and it’s one of those rare occasions where the cold clarity of the remastering dynamic doesn’t really do it any favours. But they were masters of the parallel keyboard/guitar motif, driving the songs always onwards, giving them the kind of urgency normally unique to great AOR.

All that said, at its core, Orphan is an out and out pop band, and yes, the arrangements and production are sometimes blown up into Boomtown Rats’ type pretentiousness (‘Woman In Love’ and ‘Uncle Sam Wants You’), but at other times (like on ‘Open Up The Skies’ and ‘Crazy For The Night’) they catch a wave of Honeymoon Suite’s jubilant pop sparkle.

Safe to say, the material on “Salute” certainly had its moments, but in failing to match the debut’s consistency, it fell short, critically and commercially.

Reviews by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)