Going Up

Released in 1983, Going Up is the second studio album by The RAH Band, the studio project of prolific British arranger and producer Richard Anthony Hewson. While the project began with the orchestral 'The Crunch' in the late 70s, this album represents the project's pivot into a sophisticated, synth-heavy sound that would define its legacy. The album features the hit 'Messages From the Stars,' a track that has seen a massive resurgence in the 21st century due to its adoption by the city pop and future funk communities. Hewson performed almost all instruments himself, utilizing a range of classic hardware including the Roland Jupiter-8 and various Oberheim synthesizers. Critically, the album is noted for its high production values and its ability to blend jazz-fusion sensibilities with accessible pop melodies. It stands as a pivotal bridge between the disco era and the mid-80s synth-pop explosion, distinguished by its 'interstellar' thematic consistency and lush, multi-layered vocal arrangements.