Album review: MOONSTONE PROJECT – New Life

Escape Music [Release date 18.09.24]

Moonstone Project is masterminded by guitarist and songwriter Matt Filippini. ‘New Life’ is a re-issue, of sorts, as it sees the Moonstone Project’s 2006 album ‘Time To Take A Stand’, being completely remixed and remastered by Fredrik Folkare, plus being renamed appropriately.

The album is an all-star affair featuring the likes of Alessandro Del Vecchio, Ian Paice, Glenn Hughes, Graham Bonnet, Ken Hensley, James Christian and many more.

Often these all-star affairs can sound a bit disjointed, however, with the Moonstone Project Matt Filippini is involved in the songwriting across the whole album (including a few tasty co-writes with the likes of Glenn Hughes and Kelly Keeling). This allows the album’s 70s classic rock vibe to come through loud and clear.

Highlights? Opener ‘Silent Hunter’ sets the bar high with Andrew Freeman on vocals with Ian Paice and Tony Franklin moving the song along nicely. Paul Shortino sounds in fine fettle on ‘Pictures of My Lonely Days’ and Matt Filippini’s guitar solo is the icing on this particular musical cake.

Glenn Hughes – never a shrinking violet in the vocal histrionics department – certainly gives it his all on ‘Closer Than You Think’. Blue Oyster Cult’s Eric Bloom adds the class you’d expect to ‘On the Way to Moonstone’. Needless to say with Bloom and the song’s sound, it recalls classic late 70s/early 80s Blue Oyster Cult.

The funk rock of ‘Beggar of the Love Knocker’ (the title alone should ring alarm bells!) featuring James Christian is best avoided. He redeems himself on ‘Madman’ where Ken Hensley and former Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker added their musical talents, making it one of the album stand outs.

Fancy a bit of Rainbow? The album’s closing track ‘Not Dead Yet’ fulfils that need, with not only former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet but also a Blackmore styled solo from Filippini and a mesmerising Hammond solo from Gianluca Tagliavini.

Having not been properly distributed on its original release, full marks to Escape for giving this classy piece of hard rock a proper release. If you enjoy any of the singers featured, you’ll be sure to enjoy this one. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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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)