In 2019 I wrote a conclusion for an album which said:" If you want something different music wise, please try out the second album of Euphoria Station. You might, just like me enjoy the combination of Americana with progressive rock on The Reverie Suite. You won't regret it! Enjoy!" Well six years later, bandleader and guitarist Hoyt Binder asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing their third album, the follow-up to The Reverie Suite. Of course I was, because I naturally wanted to know how the band had developed over those six years. Did they still combine Americana with progressive rock influences? In the report below, I'll tell you how the band has developed and whether I can recommend Smoking Gun to those who wake up and go to sleep listening to our music! For those who haven't read the review of their predecessor and are now entering the music of this band, it is only natural to introduce them briefly by copy that you can read on their Bandcamp page: "Euphoria Station is an LA based progressive rock band who's music is a blend of Americana and rock with progressive tinges. Vocalist Saskia Binder and guitarist Hoyt Binder formed the band to share their passion for deep music with hooks that evoke America in all its beauty - whether it be folk, rock, jazz or Native purple mountains majesty. " This time around the new album is a little bit shorter than its predecessor The Reverie Suite, which was 71 minutes long and is a concept album which is based on the life of the bands female lead singer. The new album clocks in at 63 minutes and is also a bit of a concept album, but in a different way. Perhaps difficult to explain. But in a way you could say Smoking Gun pays homage to the heroes of Southern Rock, with acclimation and reverence to their legacy and indelible sound engraved in our hearts. That's probably why there is a cover of The Marshall Tucker Band's Take The Highway. They were a big influence on Saskia's youth. Its loosely intertwined themes are inspired by a western fuelled daydream on a long train running, involving the fastest gunslinger in the West, love lost and love found, and remembering fallen Southern Rock heroes along the way. This new theme probably explains why the progressive rock influences are minimal this time around. Indeed the overall sound is based on the earlier mentioned Southern Rock musical style. However mentioning this doesn't mean there isn't enough to enjoy music wise. Certainly not. But you have to listen to this album in a different perspective or look at it in a different view. I won't go deeper into the songs separately. I guess that's not really needed here. What I will do is pick out the songs which really are my favourites on this album. Starting off with the short album opener Amazing Grace (In Memory Of...). This is a beautiful one and a half minute instrumental track performed on the (lap steel) guitar. It is followed by the earlier mentioned cover Take The Highway. Thanks to the flute parts of Rebecca Kleinmann they turned it into a Jethro Tull kind of tune which includes excellent guitar parts done by Hoyt. Off The Beaten Path and Sweep Me Away are the more the more poppy sounding tunes on which the strong vocal parts of Saskia can be heard the best possible way. This you can also hear on Living For Today. But on the other hand this track belongs to the more progressive rock sounding compositions as well. As for the best progressive rock sounding compositions it is easy to say that Dusty Roads belongs to that category. Beautiful keyboard parts are mixed with excellent guitar parts on this great instrumental tune. Finally worth mentioning is the final song on the album. It is titled November Came Early and it features a great guitar solo which brings the song sometimes into progressive rock territories. Euphoria Station have released with their third album Smoking Gun an album which is certainly worth listening. But it's clear that on this third album, the band hasn't given as much thought to those who embrace progressive rock. They may not have consciously chosen to minimize their involvement in their compositions. It may have been a deliberate choice, as they wanted to highlight their tribute to Southern rock. Of course, it is their free choice to go in that direction musically this time. Hopefully, their next album will take a step back to our beautiful musical style. Or perhaps a whole album dominated by progressive rock influences. Who knows! Only time will tell. But for now, enjoy this album and the musical style it presents. Perhaps, like me, you'll still find a fair number of songs that appeal to you. But in general you could say recommended for music lovers who are into a musical mix of styles such as Southern Rock, Blues Rock, Folk, Prog, Country Rock, and Americana. In a way you all can find it on Smoking Gun! But maybe a little more Southern Rock than the other musical styles. *** Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
