Places Of Power - Now Is The Hour

Year of Release: 2009
Label: Blistering Records
Catalog Number: BR015
Format: CD
Total Time: 57:52:00

Places Of Power's Now Is The Hour is the first release resulting from the collaboration between Phillip Bardowell (vocals, Unruly Child) and Bruce Turgon (bass and other instruments, ex-Foreigner, Lou Gramm Band, others). Joining the duo is Scott McKinstry on lead guitar. It was released by Frontiers Records for the European market in 2008, and then by Blistering Records for the North American market (and perhaps others) in January 2009.

This is melodic rock/AOR, which you might have guessed by the participants - or not. I've been a fan of melodic rock/AOR - you'll find Journey, Foreigner, Night Ranger, etc. in my collection. And this release would fit among them, especially if we look at their more recent output. I mean, this doesn't compare to any of these group's classics. But especially in the choruses and use of backing vocals, it favors a Foreigner-like sound. In addition, what my thought was listening to this was of Asia (during "The Passage," for example). A much less prog leaning Asia, but Asia nonetheless. As fronted by John Payne, incidentally; Bardowell doesn't sound like John Wetton.

It's not a bad album; in fact it's pretty good, it entertains, which is the idea. It sounds fine, with good vocals -- Bardowell often has a warm tone, although mostly it's a bit thin and reedy -- good performances (some tasty guitar solos throughout), good production (although I don't find that it breathes in every track; some seem like walls of noise, always something going on).

But it also seems bland; maybe because it so well fits into a niche. During the first three tracks, "In Your Wildest Dreams," "Make Me Believe," and "Desires Of Our Hearts," you feel as if you have heard these tracks before. "I Live For You" seems like it could have been lifted off Foreigner's 4 or Agent Provocateur. Though in truth, I would say that could be said about most, if not, all of the songs (Turgon didn't join the group until before the release of Mr. Moonlight (1994), which I've not heard; it was his only recording with the group). Although I'd put the title track in this category, it's a bit more? exciting and bridges into the tracks that, for me, have a bit more substance (even as this track closes the album). Do you recall Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers"? Well, the intro to the track "Places Of Power"- a menacing keyboard - reminded me very much of that track (a favorite of mine, by the way, from that period of DP). The rest of the track doesn't really follow through for me, even as the beat still seems as menacingly aggressive - in AOR terms.

"One Day" is a bit more aggressive, edging toward a prog metal vibe, though not quite reaching that qualification. Keyboards are little more audible in this track, even as they are used more for colouring than any lead widdling. McKinstry shreds it up on a guitar solo - clear and searing. If I had to give you the obligatory (?) "sounds like," I thought of Symphony X, for a moment, and then of Shadow Gallery, during the Mike Baker era.

And I like the grooving beat to "Secrets." Keyboards are again more present in the mix, and not as mere accent, but helping to create the pulse this track has, along with bass. Drums fill the beats between the beats. There's an energy and life to this track that didn't seem present in the first three. This vibe recurs in "Hard To Love You," which otherwise seems another generic melodic rock piece, even if it snarls a bit more than your typical AOR piece.

"Always," is a heavier track, deeper in tone than other tracks. Guitar is up front and all over the place, McKinstry reeling off fiery, screaming leads, even when guitar is not at the forefront. The backing voices are render big, giving this an epic feel, even as the quick tempo makes everything feel close and tight.

"Path Of Least Resistance" is high-octane and peppy - it's rock 'n' roll baby. Yes, more hard rock than AOR, and yes, I do find there's a difference. Drums drive the beat, I think more so than elsewhere. Guitar screams, roars, shrieks and growls. It's a toe-tapper. Well, yes, you can toe tap to almost all of them, but this one most especially.

Is this the album to make melodic rock/AOR hip again? No; I think, in terms of radio and mass appeal, that ship has sailed. Even the venerable progressive rock genre, which, while still sailing the seas (and still not taking on water), has lost the radio spotlight to a new(er) generation. Even as the term and idea of prog rock is now on the upswing, it means a different thing to the "in crowd." -- I'm thinking of the Muses, Radioheads, and such of the world, with an assumption that, in Europe at least, because I don't think so in the US, they get any radio play.

But this should appeal to we "old fogies" who remember our 70s arena rock, when Journey, Foreigner, Aerosmith, etc. were "it." Should appeal, and for the most part will, but? more life needs to be breathed into the genre for it to come ashore. And because Places Of Power are (or were, since there seems to be no recent activity) new, there isn't even a home on classic rock stations.

As things go, I'd have to say that, based on performance and production, this is a better than average release, yet settling for just being better than average.

Tracklisting:
In Your Wildest Dream (5:06) / Make Me Believe (5:12) / Desires Of Our Hearts (5:44) / One Day (4:18) / I Live For You (4:45) / Secrets (5:03) / The Passage (4:34) / Always (4:48) / Hard To Love You (4:24) / Light Of My World (5:29) / Path Of Least Resistance (4:01) / Places Of Power (4:22)

Musicians:
Bruce Turgon - bass, keys, etc.
Phillip Bardowell - vocals
Scott McKinstry - guitar

Discography:
Now Is The Hour (2008/2009)

Genre: Melodic Rock-AOR

Origin US

Added: July 10th 2010
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.myspace.com/placesofpower
Hits: 3626
Language: english