NEWMAN: Aerial (A.O.R.): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

At a time when the Scandinavian and Nordic countries are phagocyting almost the whole AOR / hard melodic landscape, a few islets try to resist this wave. This is the case of Newman's British band who come back with a new opus entitled "Aerial" for which he made a transatlantic alliance by entrusting the production to Harry Hess (Harem Scarem).

The advantage with Steve Newman is that you always know more or less what to expect. Like many bands that have imposed their style, the duo he's been forming for several albums with drummer Rob McEwen offers a gleaming and dynamic AOR, at the border of melodic hard rock and recognizable from the first chords. The problem of choruses that lacked catchy lines has been solved since "Siren" (2013) and the new release even proves to be particularly rich in the matter. Even if the last tracks are a bit more complex, they don't escape the signature affixed at the beginning of the album with its cluster bombs that themselves in neurons and memories for long hours. It's hard to dissociate some tracks from such a coherent whole, but we have to admit that 'Can't Stop Loving You', 'Life To Remember', 'Vertigo (Leap Of Faith)' or 'I Am Your Man' set the bar particularly high in this genre.

Newman's other strength is that he always manages to integrate some discreet but sufficient evolutions to avoid the feeling of repetition. On this "Aerial", it is remarkable to note the work of goldsmith realized on the keyboards which find here a perfect balance with the guitar, the latter offering some luminous solos ('Fear Of Flying', 'Don't Wake The Lion', 'High Tonight (Aerial)' or 'Still Bleeding'). The flawless production of Harry Hess is not for nothing in this result and it would be a pity to ignore it. As for Rob McEwen, he probably offers one of his most accomplished performances by showing variety and inventiveness, as on this unstoppable groove on 'Can't Stop Loving You' or on 'High Tonight (Aerial)'. Finally, if 'I Am Your Man' goes straight to the point without embellishment, the last third of the album that follows him offers more complex compositions, varying tempi and intensity.

The final result of this opus is simply flawless. The coherence is obvious and yet the variations are perfectly calibrated to avoid the slightest linearity. Each composition proves Steve Newman's precision, both in writing and execution. The Briton and his accomplice thus offer us a new album that is unavoidable in their discography, which seems to contain only this kind of offering. That's what definitely imposes Newman on the top of the genre and as the leader of a British melodic hard that doesn't seem decided to lay down its arms in front of the Nordic armada. - Official website

NEWMAN

AERIAL

AOR HEAVEN

A.O.R.