Search - Kestrel :: Kestrel

Amazing Prog!

Rodrigo A. S. Britto | Natal, RN Brazil | 06/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Astonishing from beginning `til the end, Kestrel`s first and only album is a lesson of well-crafted progressive with the magnificent lead vocals of Tom Knowles. Highlights are the last track (August Carol), as Wind Cloud and I Believe In You. Packed on nice japanese sleeve-pack, reproducing the LP format.
An unknown masterpiece, full of great moments."

Scottish Prog band Kestrel

F. N. Noone | Cape Town South Africa | 01/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kestrel the unsung flight

Newcastle Prog band Kestrel launched their self titled album in 1975. Musicians comprised guitarist Dave Black, John Cook synthesizers, Dave Whittaker drums, Fenwick Moir bass and vocalist Dave Knowles later replaced by Pete McDonald. Most of the songs were written by Dave other than "End Of The Affair" penned by ex Mungo Jerry / Stretch John Cook who also featured with Octopus.The clarinet surging "Acrobat" which exhorted superb drums by ex Household /Ginhouse Dave Whittaker was really Kestrel's maiden flight while synth ballads like "Wind Cloud" reflect an aural Gentle Giant feel. David plays some awesome riffs on "I Believe In You" while his future Martian fuzz has stinging moments on "End Of The Affair". The mellotron highlight was the 8min "August Carol" where John Cook who started out with Love Affair provides string-synths, organ and Mellotron. A more complex Yes structure segments the changing tempos of "In The War". Black would replace Mick Ronson in Bowie's Spiders From Mars until his success with Goldie with the remnant of Kestrel, scoring #10 with "Making Up Again"."