Transcendence emerged from the first batch of ideas that started accumulating; and for a while, there was just the first progression accompanying the first verse…

Touching ground, held by an unseen bound / for western star drags me way to far / to find you my love, to build a connection above / feels so strong, can΄t be wrong

Although it was one of a few of our friends’ favourites, we quickly dropped the song from our sets as we somewhat stopped finding it stimulating enough.

In hindsight, I would say the song centres on the emotional highs of idealising, and the lows of disillusioning, a long-distance romance—something I never found particularly appealing from the start, so it didn’t quite resonate with me.

We would include the number regularly on our practicing routine, but it only made it once on a live setlist, in Syria the month after the album was out, and I remember a fellow came to me out of the venue after the gig when and commented on how it is a great song and how it reminded him of Porcupine Tree. This might have been a catalyst in abandoning the song who knows?! I still love the keyboard and guitar solos as well as the accompanying bass line as it sounds like our big tribute to Rainbow‘s Rising which has been a massive influence on my musical journey.

Speaking of Syria we’ve produced a TEE for the 5th anniversary of our visit there, and run a relevant fundraiser. The design was named ¨Western Star¨after the song΄s opening line.

Although not very popular within the band, the song managed to find many admirers, and one of its very talented ones, Anna Papyan, is including it regularly on her sets. You should really check her out.