The Elven – Solstice
Spinda Records / Clostridium Records / Echodelick Records – 2025
Rock, Hardrock, Classic, Psych, Roots, Seventies
Rated: *****
Radiating warmth and blissful harmony, the brand new outfit The Elven have released the perfect spring and summer time album with Solstice. Heralding the coming of a new season, a new sound, steeped in love, freedom and the music of yesteryear. With grace and poise they dip their toes in as much of the classic stuff as they can handle, never shying away from using seventies, roots, blues and psych to touch up their hardrock. Ever since the first single Shine was released The Elven has been on heavy rotation over here. And whenever the sun blessed me with its rays, The Elven would be spun first, as we gazed skywards and thanked the energy bestowed upon me. And if you haven’t yet gotten acquainted with this new project through the first single Shine or their second single Closer To Freedom, let us jot down once more who The Elven are. Born during those weird pandemic times, the project is comprised out of bassist Rod Tirado and guitarist/vocalist James Vieco of Saturna fame. Who managed to rope in their friend Isaiah Mitchell from Earthless to lay down his guitar prowess. And with added keyboardist Tabatha Puig from The Capaces and drummer Javi Gómez from Patente De Corso, they managed to get together and write for one whole month. The result of which are the eight songs on the Solstice album...
Which starts out with that brilliant Shine track. Not just a single, but a prayer and so soulful, that it will immediately warm every fiber of your being. And those vocals, James Vieco sounds completely in synch with this track, the composition and its meaning, delivering it so pure, honest and with touch of gruff that runs straight from his heart to yours. Far Beyond is that classic seventies stroll, that riverside walk that stops at the pier and has you gaze off into the distance, determined to beat on, boats against the current. Followed by Closer To Freedom, slowing you even more down, to a stop, to an inhale that will fill you with nothing but energy as you let go of all those desperate thoughts, the memories of those ten thousands mistakes, and embrace forgiveness. Translated so beautiful by the vocals and the guitar lines that brush ever so lovely beneath the voice. With New Pair Of Wings, we come to the most current, even pop sensible, track of the album. Light as a feather, its meandering build will surely lift you up and send you off as high as you can possibly be, the flight punctuated by a lovely guitar solo, which stops as the track gets a minutely wilder sequence, until break down. Stand Right Next To Me, with a jazzy touch, courtesy of a saxophone brought to you by Juan Lichter and a guitar that riffs off the sax and the percussion that keeps this comfortable and confident bop and swing going. The longest track on the album, sits so snugly in the middle of the album, it will make you long to dance tightly together with all those stranger you might meet at a roof top party somewhere on a warm and sweltering night. Out The Door, with lovely key work, gives of most of the Black Crowes boogie and the Southern touch they usually bring to the table. But this table is set for you to dance upon, arms constantly in the air and shuffling those like crazy. Slower, gruff crooner, Wherever I Go follows, is that soulful early seventies rock once again, although the guitar tone of the solo also has a bit of middle nineties, but as the keys meander throughout the composition, and the guitar shambles across, the overall atmosphere is that of vintage love once again. Final track All Of A Sudden feels like that peaceful glade in the middle of the forest, filled with flowers and a sun that will always break through the clouds at the perfect moment. It is the instrumental outro, which lets both guitar and piano become that sunray once again, filling you with warmth and understanding. Preparing you for a new time, a new season and a chance to do whatever you need to do. Like a first day of spring can do…
(Written by JK)
