Far Star
Far Star gives Gilad Hekselman's guitar a larger setting. He also plays bass and keyboards and builds much of the music himself, with contributions from several guests. Electronic rhythms and studio colours matter as much as the soloing. The melodies hold the different ideas together.
Long Way From Home begins with a simple whistled tune. The music then gains space and strength, with Eric Harland's drums providing an important engine. Hekselman's guitar remains melodic and clear. The track shows how a small beginning can grow into a broader arrangement without losing its recognisable shape.
Fast Moving Century develops that direction further. Uneven electronic beats give way to a firmer fusion sound, with changing keyboard parts from Shai Maestro. The transitions keep the piece moving. Production becomes part of the composition rather than something added at the end.
Magic Chord puts more emphasis on the riff and powerful guitar playing. Its rhythmic layers maintain movement even as the intensity rises. Rebirth closes with strikingly detailed drumming from Ziv Ravitz. It provides another example of guests adding more than a familiar name.
Not every passage maintains its direction equally well. Some ideas linger, and the title track's soft keyboards can seem too sweet. The record is consequently not equally sharp throughout. Nevertheless, its broad approach is convincing. Far Star makes room for forceful fusion, quiet melodies and electronic sounds without losing sight of the guitar. Hekselman's interest in songs remains clear within the expanded production. That makes the adventure easy enough to follow and varied enough to invite further listening.
