“Ring Of Lords”
by Sky Saxon's U.S.A.
1991 song
Chirpy keyboards and funky synth stabs add to the chilly studio sheen that defines "Ring Of Lords" by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A. from the 1991 album Flashback. Also distinguishing the song, which like the rest of the CD is the polar opposite of garage rock, is a chorus of backing R&B singers. Bet you never expected that on a Sky Saxon song!
In the plus column, Sky Saxon does seem to have himself composed the words to "Ring Of Lords", which are an entertaining melange of Biblical references, starry-eyed pronouncements about peace and joy, and Sky’s messianic exhortations to “come and fly away” to the table of the Lord. His voice is somber, which is not to say sober, responding to the tamely reliable music of Dana Smith. A ringing, melodic chorus sounds more like Al Jarreau than Sky Saxon, but this always was an odd project for Sunlight.
Those backing singers are apparently a single vocalist, Jennifer Tiangco, overdubbed several times. She helped out on several of Flashback‘s songs, and her contributions to "Ring Of Lords" make it an especially notable track on the album.
