When you hear some of the stuff on major labels that passes for rock, you despair.
So many of the majors hitch themselves to rickety, no-talent bandwagons in a desperate attempt to connect with the next big thing.
Yet, multi talented bands like the unglamourously titled T.Clemente Band have to release independently.
Outstanding guitar man, Clemente wrote all the songs here.
Helping him out in the studio were the legendary Robert (Hush, GTR, 3) Berry on bass, guitar, keys and bgvs, David (Sammy Hagar) Lauser on drums and Thom (Google him and be impressed) Duell on lead vocals and guitar.
Berry, Duell and Clemente produced the album.
There's so much to like about this recording.
First, Clemente and Berry have arranged Clemente's melodic, keenly crafted songs in a rich variety of musical styles, none of them straying outside rock'n'roll parameters, but with enough contrast to keep things interesting.
Second, Duell's voice is a wonder to behold, an amalgam of Chris Thompson, John Farnham and Chris Farlowe, you can see why he's been so much in demand by the music biz cognoscenti over the years.
He tweaks his vocal cords to suit the music and the moment, zipping up and down through the gears, and he sings like he means it, like the music alone is enough.
The first couple of tracks -
'Illusion' and
'Life' - fit firmly into the melodic rock category, very Night Ranger, very Triumph. Powerful, tuneful heavy hitters, with Clemente's barbed, biting axework often threatening to steal the show.
Then, fascinatingly, we're off down the yellow brick road into progrock territory with
'Children And Their Future', a plaintive social commentary that spins on a thundering, bass heavy riff, and
'Voice Out', an exciting, red blooded mix of classic rock and contemporary tech prog that closes with a fabulous, pulse quickening, lead guitar outro.
So far, so unfashionable. And so lovingly old school. The passion being generated and channelled into the music here is nothing short of breathtaking.
'Come Fly Away' captures strands of AOR, Beatle-esque pop and Wurlitzer propelled prog and weaves them into one short, singularly inspired burst of melodic rock.
If the energy ever seems to flag, Clemente utilises a huge dose of clanging, soaring guitar like an adrenaline shot to the heart, or Berry wheels in a stadium sized fill or frill on the keyboards, like a rock'n'roll defibrillator that brings the music back to larger than life.
Elsewhere
, 'Rock All Night' does exactly what you'd guess it says on the tin, or tinnies for that matter. Vividly evoking good times, in another place, another era.
Lyrically
, 'Prisoner Of War' is a little heavy handed, but the track is rescued by the neatly crafted, simplified progrock arrangement.
Clemente closes his album, appropriately, appositely, with a cracking instrumental,
'In My Mind'. Vaguely reminiscent of sixties legend, Mason Williams, starting out tentatively, acoustically, before cranking up into electric action, ultimately being joined by the whole band.
There's no doubt that
'Illusions' is a labour of love. Clearly, the whole band put their heart and soul into this record.
We should hope it leads to something a little more lasting than a "one off" project.
Written by
Brian Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 7/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
This article has been shown 1635 times. Go to the
complete list.
