Malcolm Galloway – Stare | Progressive Rock Central.com

“Stare,” is the eighth solo contemporary classical, minimalist, and electronic instrumental album by UK composer and front-man Malcolm Galloway. It was released on August 30, 2026. Galloway is best known as the multi-instrumentalist for the UK, progressive rock band Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate.

The 8-track album explores the theme of cognitive errors and overconfidence, specifically addressing human failures to learn from repeatedly following overconfident figures.

It features complex, slowly evolving minimalist orchestrations, soundscapes, and hypnotic multi-layered instrumentation.

The two members of Hats Off Gentlemen, Malcolm Galloway, on vocals, guitar, keyboards, synths, production, and mixing; and Mark Gatland, on basses and Chapman Stick, are responsible for creating all of the music on the album.

Malcolm Galloway has released seven solo studio albums leading up to this 2026 release. His solo discography consists of: “Metazoa,” (2025), “Patterns,” (2022), “Transitions,” (2019), “Still Life,” (2016), “Dancing About Architecture,” (2015), and “Minimalist,” (2015).

“Under Countless Stars,” provides an epic start to this solo album. It is full of keyboards and synths at its opening. The keyboard and synth soundscape builds each minute to create an impressive melody with an almost digital sound. Flute – like sounds and orchestrated string sounds are gently added to the mix, as the view of the countless stars in the sky continues to evolve. Over 33 minutes of excellent keyboard music to sit back and appreciate, next time you have time to sit on the porch and look up, at the night sky. Or, just close your eyes like Dave Bowman, from “2001 A Space Odyssey,” and repeat his words, “My God, it’s full of stars!”

“Natrolite,” continues the synth and keyboard, almost rainfall sound, along with what sounds like brass and string orchestration. This is another long song at over 12 minutes. Natrolite is a crystal, mineral, “historically used as a cation exchanger in water softeners, and utilized in detergents, molecular sieves, and ceramic fillers.”

“Scherzo No. 1,” is the shortest piece of music yet, on the album, at only, just over 3 minutes. It opens with what sounds like strings and keyboards playing rapidly, before deep strings, like cellos, join in. This song has a very deep and orchestrated sound to it. A scherzo is “a fast, lively, and playful piece of classical music, often used as a movement in a larger work like a symphony or sonata.” That would also probably classify for much of what I have heard on this album, so far.

“Ice Fossils,” opens with slow and deep rhythms, like a sitting bass or oboes, along with strings and synths. Very eerie, and almost haunting. An over 16-minute instrumental that is moody and full of warning strings. Very cinematic, like a movie opening soundtrack.

“A Lacquered Ceramic Owl,” opens with keyboards and bass, and it has more of a rhythm and maybe melody to it. It is more of a song than an instrumental. Towards the end of the song, the bouncy rhythm even gets groovier. Quite possibly a song for “a decorative figurine or art piece shaped like an owl, made from clay, and finished with a glossy, protective lacquer coating.” In Japanese culture, owls “are known to be a lucky charm.” Owls played an important role in the Harry Potter movies, as well.

“Ostinato for Electric Guitar and Laptop,” is an over 9 minutes, “short musical phrase, rhythm, or chord progression that repeats persistently throughout a piece or a section of a piece.” Electric guitar sounds, bass and keyboards fill the soundscape. They even add soft drum sounds, later.

“Flugle Doodle,” sounds like an instrumental song representing a flugelhorn. The song is a short, just over a minute track, full of all sorts of brass sounds. The programming and orchestration are outstanding. My favorite track. Just wish it would have lasted longer. Flugel is derived from the German word meaning “wing.” The English translation most often refers to a flugelhorn or, historically, a grand piano or harpsichord.

“Ostinato for Electric Guitar and Laptop,” (backing track with solo guitar), is a similar song to track 6, only this time with more guitar included.

Malcolm Galloway’s “Stare,” continues to expand his extensive solo discography of music beyond Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate. This is another great addition to that catalog. This music is not for everyone, but if you enjoy keyboards, programming, and bass, you should enjoy this new addition to Malcolm’s work. I enjoyed it, especially while watching some YouTube videos of space and some famous Earth natural wonders.

Album Track List: