North Star is an instrumental progressive rock trio. As typical in this kind of music, keyboards are the center of attention. The CD
Tempest presents ten tracks of varied interests. The title track is one of the strongest pieces on this disc, showcasing the lead guitar of Dave Johnson. "Yes, I Know" has affinities with some of
Frank Zappa's '80s material, but part of the melody is lifted from the classic
Zappa tune "King Kong" (something not mentioned in the credits). "Bathroom by the Bongos" captures the bleak mood of some of
Steve Hackett's music circa Spectral Mornings and is another highlight. But who needs another synthesized rendition of Bach's "Prelude in C"? And what is "Raudra," a solo sitar performance by Joe Newnam (who does not perform anywhere else on the disc) doing here? Not to mention the long and pompous keyboard fanfare "Colossus." Keyboard sounds are very early '80s and mostly recall
Zappa's band of that time. There are some good ideas on
Tempest and nice musicianship, but the whole thing sounds like an outdated mixed bag. Better production and a more rigorous selection could have made this CD a lot stronger than it actually is. ~ François Couture