Song Review: Vision Explored feat. Neal Casal - “Be the Light”
If “Be the Light” had come blaring over the P.A. system at Fare Thee Well in 2015, the instrumental by Vision Explored would’ve sounded right at home alongside Circles Around the Sun’s soundtrack.
Perhaps that’s because band-leading multi-instrumentalist Ben Freedman is inspired by CATS. Or maybe it’s because the single features Neal Casal, making it the first Casal music to emerge since the guitarist - who in addition to CATS, played with Hard Working Americans, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and others - committed suicide Aug. 26.
Whatever the reasons, the sprawling, seven-minute instrumental that is “Be the Light” is a shimmering gem. Inspired more by latter-day Allman Brothers than Grateful Dead, it’s still CATS-like in its atmospheric production, slithering guitars and frenetic percussion and is a terrific, posthumous tribute to the guest guitarist.
Speaking to Jambands, Freedman said Casal’s cameo “meant the world to me. Always will.
“I named (‘Be the Light’) a long time ago, but it’s even more meaningful to me now.”
It means a lot to anyone who enjoyed Casal’s work from afar, too.
The track comes from Vision Explored’s still-untitled, forthcoming LP. A CATS EP, Circles Around the Sun Meets Joe Russo, is due Oct. 18.
Grade card: Vision Explored feat. Neal Casal - “Be the Light” - A
9/5/19
