The latest album from the former Waysted and Tyketto front man sees him offer up fewer ballads and acoustic numbers and opt for a harder approach with twin lead guitarists in Tony Marshall and Pat Heath. With crystal clear production that showcases his soaring voice to superb effect this is a consummate slice of AOR and will undoubtedly be embraced by the melodic rock community.

Opener ‘Miracle Days’ incorporates tribal rhythms and chants to some effect but the blueprint for much of what follows is found with the brooding rocker ‘Badlands Rain’. This song provides both guitarists the opportunity to deliver a gritty riff and take extended solos and leads into the title track, an up tempo number with more chunky guitars, albeit this time offset by some acoustic strumming. There is no let up with the next number, ‘Restless Blood’, another driving rocker with an infectious chorus and it’s clear that the quality of the song writing on display here is practically flawless. The shortest track at just under three minutes, ‘That’s What She Says’ is an acoustic led mid-tempo number that, in the days when singles still made a difference, would have been the perfect choice to ensure airplay. But whilst the ballads may take more of a back seat this time around it does not mean they have been dispensed with for good; ‘The Touch Of Your Hand’ kicks off with just voice and guitar before stretching out across five and a half minutes that showcases more of a blues influence. And another of the stand out cuts is ‘Lifted’, that begins with just Danny’s voice and piano before developing into a high energy pop rocker with a sublime chorus.

After these relatively lighter moments the CD continues with the darker ‘The Warrior’s Way’, one of a number of songs where the lyrics can be related to the cover, which depicts four Native Americans seemingly riding into battle. Another great song. And just when you think this seemingly can’t get much better then the penultimate cut ‘Death By The Tiger’ checks in at almost seven minutes and is an outstanding combination of an excellent riff, a powerful vocal delivery and a well executed solo. A montage of vocal sound effects marks the introduction of the closing ‘Better By Far’ which is notable for some mandolin (played by Danny) and military style drumming from Lee Morris and brings things to a close on a reflective note.

An accomplished release from one of rock’s great vocalists this is an album you will be playing time and time again. In the PR to accompany the CD Danny states that “Traveller is the best album of my career” and I can‘t find any reason to disagree with him.

‘Traveller’ is being launched with a party at Nottingham’s Rock City on February 10th with the official release date via Frontiers on the 16th. For more information, check out www.dannyvaughn.com

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Track List

Miracle Days
Badlands Rain
Traveller
Restless Blood
That's What She Says
The Touch of Your Hand
Lifted
The Warrior's Way
The Measure of a Man
Think of Me In The Fall
Death of The Tiger
Better By Far

Line Up

Danny Vaughn - Vocals/Guitars
Tony Marshall - Guitars
Pat Heath - Guitars
Steve McKenna - Bass
Lee Morris - Drums