AOR - review added 1st September 2009
Album Review: Journey to L.A. (2009)
For fans of: AOR... and lighter stuff 'n' heavier stuff...
French musician/producer Frédéric Slama, the man behind the AOR project, is a Parisian by birth. He has spent a fair proportion of his life living and working in L.A. Judging by his album naming policy, he has a small obsession with the Westcoast American city.
He released a couple of solo works in the 80’s and produced a selection of French and American artists but, by 2000, Frédéric had turned his attention to the AOR project. First album, L.A. Concession was soon followed by Next Stop L.A. and the critically acclaimed L.A. Reflection. Featuring artists like Steve Lukather, Mike & Jeff Porcaro, Tommy Denander, Göran Edman, Michael Landau, Bruce Gaitsch and more, the album became a huge success for Frédéric.
More albums - Dreaming Of L.A. and L.A. Attraction - followed over the next couple of years bringing us to Journey to L.A., an album that continues the trend of swapping the 'L.A.' from the front to the end of the title with each successive release.
Featured on the album are numerous big names. Frédéric Slama, Tommy Denander & Philip Bardowell (Places Of Power) are at the helm. Joining them are Steve Overland (FM), Steve Lukather & Fergie Frederiksen (Toto), Dane Donohue, Bill Champlin (Chicago), David Williams (Michael Jackson) and...well, the list goes on.
The sound is a mixture of hints and influences from the performing artists added to a slug of Westcoast charm and good old fashioned soul. In places the album approaches heaviness but it's unlikely to upset your speakers. The real firepower is in the musicianship. These are world-class players making world class noises. The songs vary in brilliance but, more often than not, they contain instrumentation that will force a tear from even the hardest eye socket.
'Waiting In The Darkness' starts in dramatic theatrical style but soon settles down to standard hard rocking fare. Steve Overland gives his all and the result is nice if none-amazing. Philip Bardowell's 'Don't Turn Back' sounds just like his music from the Places Of Power record - i.e. forceful, melodious and impressive. 'Love Remains The Same' is the first truly strong song on the album. It's a feet-on-the-sofa slow track with a strangely bright background. It's difficult to explain why it's good but it is...so there.
'Read The Signs' is more grown-up and just as good. 'Just For Love' is a mash-up of the 70's and the 00's. It's an okay track but doesn't do a huge amount for me. Fergie Frederiksen sounds great on 'Desperate Dreams'. It's like a harder hitting version of the work he did on the Mecca album a few years back, and it wouldn't have seemed out of place on that excellent release.
'Never Surrender' manages to be chilled and hard hitting at the same time. It's another above-average track and has an instrumental section that will blow your mind. 'The View Of You' is a wonderful feelgood track with yet more astonishing musicianship. 'Heartless' is well performed but ultimately missing a handful of catchiness. 'West Into The Sun' heads in a totally different direction to the rest of the album. It reminds me Chris Rea's driving tracks like 'Road To Hell'. Both the lyrics and the basic vibe make for an unusually cool track.
'Lost In Your Eyes' sounds like a soft Toto track...which is a good thing. The instrumental 'You're My Obsession' comes across part early-U2, part Toto, all good. It finishes the album in resolute style and is arguably the best track of the lot...assuming you don't mind the lack of vocals.
The performances on Journey to L.A. are brilliant, the songs mostly average. It you are someone who listens to music from a technical standpoint you will love this release. If you obsess over big hooks and even bigger choruses it's merely likeable. This AOR release is definitely good, but it isn't quite great.
Check out... That artwork. Pass the sunglasses!
Track List:
1) Waiting In The Darkness
2) Don't Turn Back
3) Love Remains The Same
4) Read The Signs
5) Just For Love
6) Desperate Dreams
7) Never Surrender
8) The View Of You
9) Heartless
10) West Into The Sun
11) Lost In Your Eyes
12) You're My Obsession
Label: Escape Music
Artist's website(s): AOR
