Sebastian Hardie

Introduction to Windchase

Released in February 1976 by Polydor, "Windchase" marks the second and final studio album of Sebastian Hardie, an Australian symphonic progressive rock band. This album follows their earlier work, "Four Moments," and continues to develop their rich sound. The album was engineered by Glen Phimister at Festival Studios in Sydney and produced by John Kerr.

Band Lineup and Sound

Windchase features a lineup that includes Mario Millo on lead vocals and guitars, Toivo Pilt on Mellotron and other keyboards, Peter Plavsic on bass guitar, and Alex Plavsic on drums and percussion. The album is characterized by a blend of emotive guitar leads, lush Mellotron textures, and intricate keyboard arrangements. The dynamic interplay between the rhythm section and melodic vocal lines provides a solid foundation for the band's progressive sound.

Musical Structure and Themes

The album opens with the title track, "Windchase," a 20:36 epic that dominates Side A. This lengthy composition showcases the band's ability to weave complex musical themes together, drawing comparisons to influential groups like Genesis and Pink Floyd. Side B contains four shorter tracks, including "At The End" and "Live, Love And Music," which further explore their progressive rock style. "Hello Phimistar" serves as a tribute to their engineer, while "Peaceful" offers a serene instrumental interlude.

Conclusion

Windchase is catalog number 2907 024 and was released on vinyl LP format.