In the world of progressive rock, there are inventors, and there are followers. The inventors were bands like Yes, ELP, Genesis, etc. The followers happened to be bands that were either obviously influenced by already existing bands (Camel is an example, another would be certain German prog bands like Eloy, Grobschnitt, and Novalis), or sometimes, they become an outright clone band. One example is Germany's Triumvirat who did everything to sound like Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1973's Illusions on a Double Dimple and 1975's Spartacus proves that). Another is Starcastle out of Champaigne-Urbana, Illinois that did everything to sound exactly like Yes. The band featured former REO Speedwagon vocalist Terry Luttrell who did everything to sound exactly like Jon Anderson, and despite the REO connection, Starcastle's music is nothing like the bar band sound (or the the better known crappy power ballad sound) that REO was known for. Their music was strictly in Yes territory, and you'll notice it in their vocal harmonies, not to mention the fact keyboardist Herb Schildt did everything to be Rick Wakeman (he borrowed a lot from "Roundabout" and "And You And I"). The rest of the band consisted of bassist Gary Strater, guitarist Stephen Hagler, guitarst Matthew Stewart, and drummer Stephen Tassler, in which their styles obviously bring to mind the likes of Chris Squire, Steve Howe, and Alan White.
Even the lyrics are in that same, indecipherable cosmic nature that Jon Anderson is well known for. Because of this, the band received a whole heaping of criticisms, both from the mainstream rock press (like Rolling Stone) and from prog rock fans alike. But if you don't mind a band ripping off another band's sound, then give Starcastle a try. I have no problem with that at all, as long as the compositions and music are good, and that's what you got here, that's why
I enjoy Fountains of Light, which is their second album, a lot. This is regarded by many as their best album, and I happen to believe that as well. My favorite cuts on this album including "Fountains", "True to the Light", "Portraits", and "Diamond Song (Deep is the Light)". "Portraits" is very much similar to "And You And I". Starts off acoustic, has similar use of Moog synthesizer, except this song is much shorter. The organ solo part of "Diamond Song" sounds like it was taken from "Roundabout".
I was so utterly flattered when I first heard Fountains of Light. It was like hearing another Yes album I never heard before. And I'm sure Epic Records (Starcastle's label) was flattered to sign a Yes clone band because the real band was on hiatus (the reason why there were no Yes albums between Relayer and Going For the One, except for a compilation album called Yesterdays, was because all the members were releasing solo albums in 1975-1976). You either like Starcastle, or hate them, but if you ran out of Yes albums to buy, and you don't mind a band using another band's sound, then give Fountains of Light a try.
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