Before we review Daydreamer I must say that I’m surprised to see a new release on the Escape Music label as they have been unable to supply my local record shop with a copy of Departure’s first CD so it’s good to see that they are still around and still able to locate little gems like this. Daydream for those of you who are unfamiliar with the band are of the Swiss persuasion and are apparently much heavier than the compatriots Gotthard. Their biography promises 80’s sensitivities, the “virtuous” voice of Jean-Marc Viller AND the runaway bass riffs of Alain Schwaller. 

 That is somewhat appropriate as it’s one of those riffs that opens proceedings at the start of the enigmatically titled I am f… which, although I’ve no idea what it is about is fairly indicative of the rest of the CD; it’s well-executed, melodic and very pleasing on the ear. 

I thought that I’d take some time to individually examine what I noted down about the rest of the disc: 

Guardian Angel: This is proggy and opens almost like Rammstein but if I were John Parr I’d be alerting my lawyers as bits of it sound uncannily like St. Elmos’s Fire! Secret Desire: This one DOES sound like a mid-tempo Gotthard song but is very much a European take on the classic American AOR sound – very tasty. Dreamtale: Weighing in at over seven and a half minutes this is again, somewhat progressive in places, but also has a feel of Black’s Wonderful Life in the song’s infancy. 

Paralyzed: Heavy guitars can be found here – it's up-tempo with an offbeat chorus just to prove how versatile the band are. Hand in Hand sounds like Westlife in places especially the backing vocals. Twenty years ago Daydreamer would have released this as a single as an attempt to crossover into the mainstream charts. Philosophy is a classic, hook-laden piece of melodic rock and as such is really rather yummy! 

Atmospheric keyboards introduce You better Run. This is the sort of high quality rock music with pop sensibilities that is deeply unfashionable here in the UK but which our European neighbours lap up. I Won’t Follow You is probably my least favourite song on the album – it is a bit tuneless but, to be fair, this could change over time as, hey, I’ve a deadline to meet and it may well still have hidden depths. Glass Prison is just plain classy and I’m not overly sure that Shades of our Fantasy is in the correct place on the album as it means that we end on a downer mood-wise. It is, however, perhaps the most progressive track on the CD. 

All told, this is a record I didn’t have high hopes for but now have no problems heartily recommending.

Daydreamer is released via Escape Music on May 21st

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Track Listing

I am
Guardian Angel
Secret Desire
Dreamtale
Paralyzed
Hand In hand
Philosophy
You Better Run
I Won't Follow You
Glass Prison
Slaves Of Our Fanatasy

Line Up

Jean-Marc Viller - Vocals
Alain Schwaller - Bass
Peter Berger - Guitar
Boris De Roche - Drums
Biagio Aeberhard - Keyboards