Solarstone One (3-CD)

So here we are... and here it is. The culmination of a project that now comprises 27 pieces of music, delivered over a 3-album/4-year arc - all heralded by many a meaningful dot and dash. In the instant-hit world of today, its ciphered titles have been a premeditated move to provide an album bomb with a longer fuse. A project assured enough in time & scope to draw the listener in, rather than hustle for short-lived attention in a consume/forget manner. The reason: well, several. Chief among them though is if you cross paths with but one Solarstone long player in your life, better it's his most considered, expansive & honed 'One'. It's also though provided its creator Richard Mowatt with both the opportunity and - crucially - time to fully flex a second artistic muscle. That specifically was Pop Art in nature - a form that captivated him as a child, motivated him as a teenager and one he's immersed himself in as a man. It was only with a project that had the magnitude of '1', '2' & '3' though that he felt he could make his own worthy addition to it. On the subject Solarstone says: "my love of Pop Art began in the 80's with Frankie Goes To Hollywood & ZTT's work and Peter Saville's Pet Shop Boys partnership. Imagery is an integral part of my branding and marketing and the 'One' project is, I guess, my own little contribution to an art form that fascinates me." Today Solarstone releases not just the third and concluding long player in the series . . . - - but also the album works as they were always intended, united together as 'One'.