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

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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)