Solstice issued their new album, Clann, this week, which comes hot on the heels of the MK proggers storming Prog Magazine’s annual polls, setting them up nicely for a fruitful summer of festivals and gigging.

Founder and guitarist Andy Glass talked Sammy Jones through the octet’s new release, and its journey to the shelves – and to your record collections.

“Back in 2020 working on the first album with our new singer Jess gave me a thrilling sense of potential,” Andy recalled. The album Sia set us on a journey I wholeheartedly believed could lead to the music I’d always imagined. I also realised that would take time. Jess was completely new to the genre and, incredibly, had no real experience of fronting a band… hard to believe if you attended our very first show at the Craufurd in 2021 just as we were all partially released from lockdown,” he smiled.

“I imagined it would take some years and a trilogy of albums for us to start producing our best work. Clann is the final album in that trilogy and it has left us all feeling that part one of this story turned out just fine.

“As for the tracks on Clann, I wrote Firefly right after completing the second album in the trilogy, Light Up.

“I’m a big fan of Exploring Birdsong and Lynsey Ward’s vocals who, in turn, are fans of Agent Fresco, so of course I gave them a listen. Wow!

“That got me inspired and Firefly was born as an expression of that feeling of elation that comes from moving forward. Songs arrive in different ways, one of which can be the ideas that come from playing a new instrument. I’d long fancied a nylon string guitar and Rock Hard Music set me up in the studio there with a Cordoba electro acoustic. The riff that Life’s built around came from noodling on that instrument and the song is pretty typical of someone at my stage of life when every moment takes on a value you can’t imagine in your youth.

“Plunk’s a bit mental really. I love groove and I love funk, not really a prog rock trope and likely a bit confusing for your average prog fan,” he laughed, “This was later compounded by the decision to add horns. There again it is in 7 time and, in any case, I enjoyed taking a pop at a certain recently fallen ‘leader.’

“Frippa continues down this unlikely avenue, this time ripping into other themes that required some release through music. The title is in homage to Robert Fripp’s playing. Obviously I can’t do what he does but you can probably hear the reference to his style. Another source of ideas for me is getting a chance to noodle when a guitar student fails to show… this is one of those.

“Twin Peaks is another one initially inspired by playing a new instrument. This time a beautiful twin neck guitar that my wife, and Solstice companion Jenny, gifted me at the end of 2023. The chords eventually produced a lament for the children of Gaza and every godforsaken conflict that humans impose on one another. I explained this to Jess in the studio and then she just sang. And did she sing!

“For me, it’s the most stunning and emotional vocal I’ve heard – just heartbreakingly raw and beautiful. When we released Sia, we added a version of Cheyenne from our debut album for the CD format.

“It was the first Solstice song Jess sang just to see if she made a connection with the music. And like a gift from the gods, she connected in a way I can imagine no other doing. So it seemed a fitting bookend to the Trilogy by adding our singer Ebony’s version of Earthsong, again from our debut album whose 40th anniversary we celebrated last year.”

This eighth album comes 45 years after the band played its first gig, but in 2025 Solstice are on the rise and rise, and they number an ever expanding fan base. And some who have been there since the get-go: ‘I loved them then and I love them now… it’s a life affirming, joyous sound,’ says Steven Wilson.

As for Andy? It’s business as usual, and business is good.
“The long journey continues and we’re fully charged for the next leg. Here we go!”

Solstice will play The Craufurd Arms on April 18. Visit solsticeprog.uk