"'Solar Fire' is an amazing album derived from astrology using impressions from Holst's Planet Suite. The songs are consisting of improvised parts and many spacy elements according to this main theme. Manfred Mann is a fascinating musician. In the 60s he wrote several pop songs which went up into the TOP 10. Coming from Jazz Rock with CHAPTER III he founded the EARTHBAND in the early 70's and is still touring and producing albums with his band. He's the main composer of the songs and serves a lot of interesting hammond/moog/mellotron parts and 'Solar Fire ' is set to be his best prog album. But for me Mick Rogers is also on the top of this production with his great guitar work.
The opening song Father of Day, Father of Night is the bestknown I think, epic compelling, which begins very calm with a choir and then suddenly explodes. Great vocals by Rogers. I can remember In the beginning, Darkness was often played on parties in the 70s. A more classic rocking song whilst the drumming partially is remembering at GOLDEN EARING's Radar Love. The title song convinces me with the jamming part in the middle, really a highlight and the two parts of Earth the Circle are sophisticated avantgarde music.Another unforgetable gem in the history of Progressive Rock. " - Rivertree - ProgArchives