Album review: BENJAMIN CROFT – We Are Here To Help

Galactic Receiver [Release date 03.05.24] www.benjamincroftmusic.com

You could be forgiven thinking that Benjamin Croft is the latest U.S. fusion export. But Benjamin is British and this is his third solo album. He has worked in the States but relocated to the UK a decade or so ago after working with artists such as Belinda Carlisle and The Temptations. He also does a sideline in Indian restaurant reviews so if Chicken Vindaloo is your thing check out his website.

He’s now assembled a heavyweight team of fusion ‘A’ listers and, for starters, opening track ‘The Age Of Magrathea’ features genre stalwarts Greg Howe, Stuart Hamm and Marco Minnemann.

Croft plays keyboards but never dominates, bringing a lightness of touch and a proggy Yes-vibe to frequently intense and intricate playing. He was influenced at an early age by the Yes album ‘Close To The Edge’ as well as by Keith Emerson.

Jeff Scott Soto appears for the title track (and ‘She Flies Softly On’), aided by Billy Sheehan on bass. Elsewhere Mike Stern lends his distinctive guitar tones to ‘You Made Me Miss’ which also features drum overlord Simon Phillips. Frank Gambale features on an album highlight ‘Lower Moat Manor’.

Of the other standouts – ‘Caught In The Flypaper’ – features Lynsey Ward (Exploring Birdsong) who also lends her vocals to ‘Wrestling With Plato’.

This album is Grade A Fusion and will appeal to fans of bands like Planet X or any of the artist offshoots such as Protocol (Simon Phillips) and Sons Of Apollo (Jeff Scott Soto) as much as our more recently reviewed and revered Rachel Flowers . ****

Review by David Randall

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 3 November 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 29 October 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 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)