Frozen Rain is
yet in a long line of another AOR “projects” that have been
under development for several years. Rumours circulating
around the scene have indicated that, once released it might
be something special indeed. Well the proof of the pudding
is in the listening so to speak, so does it live up to
expectations. Read on and find...
The driving
force behind Frozen Rain is Began born, Kurt Vereecke and
with this project he has written what can only be described
as a strong AOR record very much in the in the vein of
Drive She Said, Bad Habit, Prisoner of Harlan Cage, in other
words music that is most definitely keyboard driven with
"West Coast" overtones. And therein lies the main
problem. Whilst overall it's a decent enough album, if
slightly derivative perhaps, the "West Coast" feel to a a
lot of the tracks is a little weighty for my palette.
Personnel taste obviously but if the
guitars were slightly more rocking and up front then the
album would be more accessible to more people rather than
being relegated to a sub-genre of an already cult audience
in the shape of AOR fans. The other thing of course is that
all great AOR relies heavily on a superlative vocalist as
well as brilliant musicianship. On this score Frozen Rain
doesn't let the listener down. With the likes of Tommy
Denander and Daniel Flores involved, to name just two of a
cast of thousands and vocalists Joham Waem, Mauruce Saelmand
and Ollie Oldenburg at least on that front Vereecke has it
spot on.
The highlights os the album include the
up-tempo Waiting for You alongside the excellent Music Keeps
Me Alive and the obligatory ballad Say That You Love Me. The
album is also complemented by the addition of an excellent
booklet giving all those who like to dot the i's and cross
the t's a full run down on who plays what, when, where and
presumably how. Overall though Frozen Rain will only really
appeal to those who have a penchant for all things AOR and
is unlikely to find a wider audience out in the big, bad
world.
Dougie
