Self relelease [Release date 30.10.26]

Troy Redfern’s ‘Astral Doorways’ is a 6 track instrumental album, spanning 32 and half minutes and includes an opening 11 minute title track suite.

It’s a major departure from his usual high energy, barn burning, slide playing approach and he benefits from a more coherent approach.

In fact it’s more of a conceptual, cerebral and sometimes contemplative work in which his trademark intensity finds expression in Frank Zappa influenced instrumental music.

‘Astral Doors’ successfully follows a Shamanic path with which to reach into the realms of the subconscious, a place where music is the currency of imagery.

In doing so, he is a blur of inspired multi-instrumentalism, shot through with complex arrangements and fast moving tempos. His imaginative ideas all contribute to a rich musical tapestry which is fully revealed in an aching slide guitar finish.

It’s an album you will return to frequently, if only because of its musical depth.

There’s so much going; the result of meticulous planning, requisite visualisation and rigorous self-production with an organic feel that intuitively captures eclectic spark.

He barely overstays his welcome in any one musical idea or genre. He prefers to rely on keenly explored dynamics and subtle musical nuances, mapped out by interrelated motifs that are never too far removed from a fusion base.

The tremulous title track guitar solo at 1.59 has the kind of deep-toned intensity that recurs throughout a restless musical journey, and thrillingly comes together on some triple harmony lines at 7.04.

‘The Plains of Zula’ dips into the Canterbury sound of Caravan, Soft Machine and even Gong, with the frequent use of keyboards, synth swirls and vibes on a sub-psychedelic groove.

And as if to revisit that connection, ‘The Fire Stones of Areelia’ features some climatic guitar work which could be Gong era Steve Hillage.

Redfern is equally good on acoustic guitar on the same track, evoking Al Di Meola’s fusion work. He also switches to piano and Eastern sounding guitar on a monumental compositional piece built on jagged rhythms.

If Zappa’s influence weights heavily on this album, Redfern makes the most of that by transforming familiar sounding moments into fresh ideas with sharp edits, angular guitar playing and a unique vision of what layered sound can offer him.

It’s music with an undeniable propulsive feel, born of interrelated, but quasi-resolved musical ideas which purposefully leave just enough of a void to draw the listener in.

His use of contrasting guitar tones, staccato rhythms and swirling keyboards gives his music an edge.

His first beefy solo in ‘Astral Doorways’ could have come from Zappa’s ‘Them Or Us’ album, while the introduction of some Fender Rhodes noodling over a repeated piano motif neatly sets up a Ruth Underwood (Zappa) style lightning percussion run at 6.06.

Barely pausing for breath via some big chords, he morphs into some harpsichord-led, faux electronica (echoes of Yellow Magic Orchestra) over thunderous bass line..

He then opts for a subtle meditative approach with some intricate acoustic and piano interplay, ushering in a filmic feel, before a beautifully extended spacey outro, comprising synth pulses drifting piano and acoustic.

‘The Plains of Zula’ features some Mothers of Invention style percussion, with nimble acoustic guitar, sparkling vibes, and sumptuous bass.

A sudden drop-down and some precise Spanish guitar playing leads to a Jethro Tull sounding stomp at 15.20, eclipsed by a short blizzard of handclaps and tom-toms on a perfunctory outro.

The following ‘Emanations’ is a very short, powerful percussive piece as the title suggests and could have come from Zappa’s ‘Jazz From Hell’ album.

It does its job as a conduit leading to ‘Elyzium In Parallax’ (heavenly perfection?) with a stuttering Manfred Mann style piano line at 17.41, offset by synth squalls and a gnarly guitar break over more staccato backing.

Then in the blink of an eye we’re into delicate acoustic and Fender Rhodes interplay with twinkling vibes.

Like a flowing river it leads to a beautifully poised sinewy toned solo, with a simpatico bass support on a song which evokes Zappa’s ‘Water Melon In Easter Hay’.

It almost sounds as if everything on the album has naturally brought us to this wonderful solo, except once again he chooses to leave it unresolved.

He opts for another triggered burst of percussion on ‘Dark Celestial’, before thrillingly going on to re-state his musical (or more probably astral) vision on ‘The Firestones of Areelia,’ a piece of compositional excellence.

Troy Redfern has for long been an energetic and innovative guitarist with a musical imagination to match.

‘Astral Doorways’ is unencumbered by musical styles and context, and is forged by musical inspiration, making it his very best work.

Once he’s entered his astral portal he loses himself in an uplifting musical world, and its one we should all explore *****

Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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 30 August 2026.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presented his weekly Rock & Blues Show as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. First broadcast on 25 August 2026

How to Listen Live?

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

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 live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 31 August 2026

JEFFERSON STARSHIP Jetpack (indie)
SHOGUN MOJO Under The Gun (Frontiers)
NOT MY WIFE Best Friend (indie)
BEN POOLE Time Has No Mercy (Gypsy Soul Records)
NIGHT TALKS Window Shopping (indie)
CHEZ KANE One Day (Is All That It Takes) (Frontiers)

Featured Albums w/c 31 August 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.