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"Rob Moratti recites his hyper-melodious AOR with perfection on this "Epical"."
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4/5
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Rob Moratti, Canadian singer of the hard FM band Final Frontiers, offers us his sixth solo album at the end of this year. A one-time replacement for Michael Sadler in Saga on "The Human Condition" in 2009, the man with the particularly recognizable voice with its high-pitched and slightly nasal timbre is an AOR fan. These works, close to what the British of Shy proposed in their glory days, have often been adored by the amateurs of easy listening hard rock. Will "Epical" manage to seduce them as much as "Paragon", its predecessor which was one of the best release of the genre in 2020?
As far as the personnel is concerned, it is worth noting that Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake and ex-Night Ranger), coming from Revolution Saints, has moved from a guest role to that of a regular guitarist, and that Pete Alpenborg becomes his six-string partner. The latter knows the house well since he participated in the writing of Moratti's previous opus. "Epical" will not be an exception in the discography of the Canadian frontman, the US hard FM with a westcoast tendency is still relevant.
If no originality can be praised on this opus, it can however be put forward the melodious quality of the eleven titles proposed. This one is close to what Journey offers and could easily lead some of them to haunt the US radio waves. Hoekstra works like a devil and is an undeniable additional asset in the game of the Canadians. Some will probably argue that the lines here are too soft to seduce the listener. However, what will put off some will satisfy the others, those who are thrilled by the pacifying and cheerful AOR and who worship the easy listening God.
If the first few bars of this "Epical" make you happy, the rest should please you. 'Can I Hold You For A While' is the perfect example of what follows. Schematic structure, not to say simplistic, atmosphere radiating good waves, hyper-melodic and guitars chiseled like ice crystals. The rest is the same, with notably a 'Nothing Else To Say' which starts on an almost naïve note but offers a much more intoxicating chorus and a 'Crash And Burn' with its choruses full of emphasis.
So it is with this new offering from Rob Moratti, an opus not to be put between all ears at the risk of making the die-hards laugh. Unless they are going to give Joel Hoekstra a chance to become one of the most prominent guitarists of the moment, they should leave this "Epical" to the AOR fans. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Can I Hold You For A While 02. Masquerade 03. Nothing Left To Say 04. Valerie 05. Hold On 06. For The Rest Of My Life 07. Stay The Night 08. Love 09. Crash And Burn 10. You Keep Me Waiting 11. Strangers
LINEUP:
Felix Borg: Claviers / Batterie Joel Hoekstra: Guitares Pete Alpenborg: Guitares / Claviers Rob Moratti: Chant Tony Franklin: Basse Fredrik Bergh: Claviers / Invité
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READERS
3/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (2 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH ROB MORATTI
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