Collection of 13 tracks from 1992 recording sessions, including the 14+ minute title track! Jordan Macarus and Co. journey into spacey progressive territory on this one and the results are fantastic!
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WINTERHAWK - "Wind From The Sun" CD '03 (Monster, US) - I'm not sure whether the majority of people who read this page are aware of my love affair with the guitar work of Jordan Macarus. See, Jordan is a guy from Illinois who, with the release of one solitary album in 1982 by his band WINTERHAWK, basically blew up any list of guitar heroes I'd ever concocted. Combining the sweet Strat sound of vintage Blackmore and the hard-edged exploratory vibe of Steve Morse, he infused that into the "Revival" album and produced a mammoth hard rock epic that staggered my imagination to the point of making it my favourite obscure record of all time. Aspects of vintage Rush, old Triumph and early Kansas could be heard but taking wings from these were songs so gorgeously original and soul-searingly emotional that comparisons are rendered meaningless. So, suffice it to say that after discovering this masterpiece in the late '80's, I then contacted Jordan & followed his every musical move. It was a source of constant astonishment to me that a man of Macarus' talents had never gained more wide-spread glory than he did, but at the same time, it was also a testament to his single-minded obsession to producing the music HE wanted to and not that of any fashion or label's demands. How wonderful it is, then, to receive this "Wind From The Sun" CD from Monster Records. It is a superb chronicle of Jordan's work during the last several years and man, does it ever stand up to the test. While I freely admit to loving the vocals of Doug Brown on the "Revival" LP, I've gotta say that Jordan's throaty mid-range has started going down real easy on the cuts he sings here, especially on the very cool "Dreamerhood" who's 6 minutes arises near the end of the disc, and another of my favourites "Fire On The Runway." I actually had the opportunity to see Jordan & crew perform this one in a living room (!!!!) in Downer's Grove, IL about 12 years ago and the version here gives me goosebumps with the memory it brings. As with "Revival," it's not only Jordan's magnificent, lyrical guitarwork that blows me away here, but his ability to write songs that span such a wide variety of styles and doing so in a cohesive manner. Just listen to "Spiral, The Lens Maker," "Day Two In Paradise" or "Hercules Dances On The Jagged Edge." This is writing of the highest order. Still, the one that nails me the hardest is the very leading track, the title cut. Weighing in at a hefty 14:24 it is not only an instrumental of panoramic vistas, but Jordan's explanation of it's basis on an Arthur C. Clarke story (a favourite sci-fi writer of mine) only hammers it's impact home. It's just so great to me, having such a love for the "Revival" album, to see the name WINTERHAWK on an awesome new release now and the best news of all? Jordan has taken to start playing live shows in the Chicago area under this legendary name again in 2004. Long may the 'HAWK fly!!!!!!!!!
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