Castanarc – The Sea of Broken Vows
Castanarc, a UK progressive symphonic, neo-prog band released their latest album, The Sea of Broken Vows, on June 19, 2021, on Khepra Records. This is the fourth album from Castanarc; made up of members: Mark Holiday, on lead vocals; John Spence, on guitar and percussion; and David Powell, on keyboards and backing vocals.
The band also enlisted guest artists to help enhance the album. They are: Neil Duty, on guitar; Pat Mount, on guitar; Pete Robinson, on bass; Charlie Morgan, on drums; Angela Gordon, on flute and low whistle; and Steve Beighton, on saxophone.
The Sea of Broken Vows is my introduction to the band, and I have to say that I am glad I found out about them. This album is full of wonderful sounds and atmospherics.
The wonderful sounds open early with deep water drops and background atmospherics, before keyboards and synths dominate the stage. Mark Holiday sings, “Celebrate the healing far and wide. Summer shout. Voices out loud!” “A song rings out”. Enjoy the “rebirth” of the Earth, in spring and early summer. The kind of song you always want to open an album with. Perfect. Sets the bar high and fills you with hope and joy. Definitely an 80s sound to the band, developed in the 1980s. I do hear similarities to Phil Collins in Mark’s vocals. The type of music you are missing from today’s modern music offerings.
Every track on this album is worth your attention. The song titles are perfect and the lyrics and music are soothing and reflective.
Hard to pick favorites, when everything is stellar, but if I had to, then “A Song Rings Out”, “Full Circle”, the opening flute on “In this World”, is stunning, so is the song, “Walking with Angels”, the title track, “The Sea of Broken Vows”, and the closer, “For the Want of a Nail”, would all make my top list.
I will not be surprised if this wonderful album makes it into my top ten progressive rock releases for the year. Get this. Sit back in an easy chair with headphones and enjoy. Definitely best when heard with headphones, but plays well before or during a dinner party or during an early morning with breakfast.
Tracks Listing
1. A Song Rings Out (4:54)
2. Lost Tears (4:55)
3. Full Circle (4:53)
4. The Ascent of Man (4:41)
5. In This World (4:48)
6. Walking with Angels (4:14)
7. Out of Time (3:34)
8. The Waking of the Earth (4:47)
9. Light the Fire (4:58)
10. The Sea of Broken Vows (3:00)
11. For the Want of a Nail (5:58)
https://www.facebook.com/CastanarcBand/videos/135869715303866
https://www.facebook.com/985149354926651/videos/149707520191118
https://www.facebook.com/985149354926651/videos/385519559230098
https://www.facebook.com/CastanarcBand/videos/1251951335263194