First Signal
One Step Over the Line
Frontiers Music Srl
2016
The first album from First Signal was a collaboration between Canadian singer Harry Hess and producer, songwriter & bassist Dennis Ward all the way back in 2010 to try and get Hess back onto melodic rock, as his main-gig Harem Scarem was on hiatus at that point in time.
Some six years later, a similar case presented itself, with the only differences being that Harem Scarem are currently active again and that this time Swedish producer Daniel Flores (Find Me, The Murder Of My Sweet etc.) has been enlisted as the main-guy to oversee the creation of the second chapter of the “First Signal” story. Between them, Michael Palace and Daniel Flores recorded, guitars and bass, the former and drums and keyboards, the later. Darren Smith (Red Dragon Cartel etc) offered some backing vocals along with other people on Frontiers roster, namely Alessandro Del Vecchio, Nigel Bailey, Rolf Pilotti and Angelica Rylin.
The album starts incredibly with an absolute melodic 1-2 blinder in the form of “Love Runs Free” and “Love Gets Through”… some of the better songs Hess has blessed with his voice in recent years. “Still Pretending” is an excellent powerful and heartfelt ballad, while “Broken” manages to sound quite timeless, despite having a modern enough chorus.
Pretty much every one song works perfectly and delivers the goods, unlike a number of other projects that simply list a handful of famous guests and expect to be praised and roll in the doe. This one makes sense and works great and it’s a great collection of songs, expertly and lovingly put together… without sounding rushed or forced… more of that please…
Some six years later, a similar case presented itself, with the only differences being that Harem Scarem are currently active again and that this time Swedish producer Daniel Flores (Find Me, The Murder Of My Sweet etc.) has been enlisted as the main-guy to oversee the creation of the second chapter of the “First Signal” story. Between them, Michael Palace and Daniel Flores recorded, guitars and bass, the former and drums and keyboards, the later. Darren Smith (Red Dragon Cartel etc) offered some backing vocals along with other people on Frontiers roster, namely Alessandro Del Vecchio, Nigel Bailey, Rolf Pilotti and Angelica Rylin.
The album starts incredibly with an absolute melodic 1-2 blinder in the form of “Love Runs Free” and “Love Gets Through”… some of the better songs Hess has blessed with his voice in recent years. “Still Pretending” is an excellent powerful and heartfelt ballad, while “Broken” manages to sound quite timeless, despite having a modern enough chorus.
Pretty much every one song works perfectly and delivers the goods, unlike a number of other projects that simply list a handful of famous guests and expect to be praised and roll in the doe. This one makes sense and works great and it’s a great collection of songs, expertly and lovingly put together… without sounding rushed or forced… more of that please…