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Artist: Dare |
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If you've had one of those days at work and all you want to so is kick off your shoes, chill out and listen to some laid back guitar orientated music, then look no further than this new album by Dare. After a five year gap since their last studio album, 'Arc Of Arc Dawn' will be held aloft by their fans as a classic. It is full of exceptional melodic tunes that have a Celtic aura running through them in one way or another. That theme couldn't be any stronger than within 'Dublin', full of haunting keyboards and guitars that fill the song, the latter nicely on the right side of powerful as not to spoil the mood it exudes. As 'Shelter In The Storm' begins, you can tell that these are going to be special story-filled songs of pure class, again those soaring guitars mixed with harmonies complement each other perfectly. The track itself, as I found out recently in rush hour traffic is a great one to drive to, mainly due to Darren Wharton's calming texture that he has in his voice as he tells of his journey to a loved one waiting for him. I only got a takeaway pizza at the end of mine, but I was as cool as a cucumber in those traffic jams! Richie Dews guitar work becomes the main focal point on 'Follow The River', very ably helped along by some precise drumming, some quiet, some not, by Kevin Whitehead that carries the song on its merry folk / rock way. All this dreamy melodic state picks up a touch on 'I WILL Return', and I'm sure if you close your eyes mid way through, you'll see flashes of the Scottish Highlands go by, but just because the song is so moving doesn't mean you shout out "Freedom!" when those guitar solos kick in!! There are a couple of covers on the album, and it should come as no surprise that one of them is an old Thin Lizzy track seeing as there's connections in the past. Said track is 'Emerald', which is given a full blown Celtic twist with acoustic guitars, floating keyboards weaving their way in and out and what sounds like bongo drums that add just that bit something different to this atmospheric version that Phil Lynott would most likely be over the moon with. The other cover is probably the best version of any song I've heard in a long time. 'The Flame', that huge US hit by Cheap Trick, is kept slightly low key compared to the original, but is lifted up when needed. The biggest plus has to be Wharton's voice yet again. Here he shows that you don't need to screech or growl to make a song better, just a good old decent singing ability that let's the listener appreciate it. No wonder this was chosen as a single, it's that good. Now, there's ballads and there's ballads in rock, whether it's done by G'N'R in their prime(?), or Marillion in theirs, but when one sounds as heartfelt as 'Still Waiting', you know you've got the real deal. The whispered intro lays the path of a story unfolding, more of those lush harmonies and airy keyboards seem to send a shiver down the spine because you get so into the songs it almost feels personal. 'Kiss The Rain' continues in the same mould as the other mid-pacers, yet 'Remember' begins like a Pink Floyd track, the guitar lick right out of David Gilmour's repertoire. Ending with another monster ballad, 'Circle' is so uplifting, in everything about it, you literally don't want the song to end, proving that this album has everything good about musicianship, vocal ability and damn fine songs. Anyone who cares about music should have 'Arc Of The Dawn' in their collection and rightly so. Review by: Bob
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Tracklisting: 01.
Dublin
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