FLAMEDOWN – Flamedown (retail CD +1)

“Flamedown” is the delicious Melodic Rock / AOR debut from FLAMEDOWN, a South American band inspired by the classic US / European sounds of the genre, in the best TOTO, Journey and Mr. Mister tradition.
Recorded in Buenos Aires and on many USA studios, “Flamedown” includes the participation of top international session players like Guy Pratt (Gary Moore, Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, 3rd Matinee), Bruce Gaitsch (King of Hearts, Peter Cetera, Chicago), Michael Thompson (Michael Bolton, Richard Marx), Ty Tabor (King’s X), Peppy Castro (Balance, Paul Stanley, Joan Jett), CJ Vanston (Steve Lukather, King of Hearts, Eric Martin), Jeff Babko (Steve Lukather Band, Simon Phillips, Michael Landau), and more.

Lead vocalist Charlie Giardina is a well known Argentinian session musician, basically bass player. Established in UK for several years, he has played on many international recordings like Tor Tolle’s Northern Light or Watchmen and worked with Bruce Kulick.
Together with his brother (musician as well) formed Hardway in 2001, an AOR project which recorded 2 critically acclaimed demos with collaboration from master Mark Spiro among others.
Giardina also is part of Eric Martin’s stable back-up band when he visits South America every year.

In 2009, Giardina joined forces with Javier Vinas (guitar) and Emiliano Gimenez (drums, percussion): FLAMEDOWN was born. They started to work on new songs and pre-producing the new material, and at the end of 2010 Flamedown released their first EP as promo, playing several gigs in South America.

“Flamedown” is a true AOR / Westcoast delight to the ears.
Opener “Weight Of The World” has a mid-tempo pace, with subtle swirling vintage keyboards and a Michael Thompson Band vibe. Great rhythm guitars, fat bass line and a restrained but melodic guitar solo. Giardina has a good voice with no accent at all, lyrics are perfectly written. Maybe his vocal timbre or color isn’t my favorite for this genre, but the man knows how to sing AOR, with all the typical inflections and smoothness.

From the first percussion notes, “Rivers Running Deep” is absolutely TOTO, high on melody with soaring vocals complementing the music. This track has a very nice catchy chorus with some Journey hints and beautiful orchestration.
“Mystic Kind” is another slow and climatic tune beautifully arranged, followed by the awesome AOR ballad “Someday I”, full of class and style. A definitive highlight.
The overall upbeat sound conjured on “Losin’ Ground” is very much like earlier TOTO, complete with a Lukather-esque guitar solo and David Paich-like keyboards. An AOR stunner of the most extreme proportions which also reminds me some Tommy Denander works.

“No One” mixes classic AOR with smooth Westcoast on equal proportions. The pre-chorus / chorus is terrific, you can’t get out of its catchiness. One of the best arranged and performed tracks of the album.
“Voices” is another winner. This climatic AOR has Mark Spiro’s style written all over it. Not strange as Giardina worked with Mark back in the Hardway days. Elegant track as a tie & jacket evening.
On “Freedom Bound” the Journey influence is clear in the backbone of the song, of course, developed in the Flamedown style, more lightweight yet melodic.

TOTO is this band’s main influence, who can deny that? Well, they end the disc in a pure Lukather and Co. vein. “Save Me” fundamentally focuses on great instrumental arrangements featuring superb keyboards parts, round bass lines and elaborated guitars, even the vocals work as another instrument. Good one.

“Flamedown” is a more than a welcomed act into the AOR universe. From Argentina, a country where AOR music is a ‘strange in a strange land”, these guys have delivered a classy melodic album which shows that this fantastic genre has no boundaries.
Great songwriting and musicianship with the help by some of the greats of the L.A. session scene, the music on offer here is clear cut amazing.

This CD version is almost impossible to find, and as bonus track we have in exclusive the songs from Flamedown’s first EP not included into this full length debut.
Highly Recommended

01 – Weight Of The World
02 – Rivers Running Deep
03 – Mystic Kind
04 – Someday I
05 – Losin’ Ground
06 – No One
07 – Time Never Waits
08 – Voices
09 – Freedom Bound
10 – Save Me

Carlie Giardina – Bass, Lead Vocals, Programming
Javier Vinas – Guitar
Emiliano Gimenez – Drums, Percussion
Guy Pratt (Gary Moore, David Gilmour, 3rd Matinee) – Bass
Bruce Gaitsch (King of Hearts, Peter Cetera, Chicago) – Guitars
Michael Thompson (Michael Bolton, Richard Marx) – Guitars
Ty Tabor (King’s X) – Guitars
Peppy Castro (Balance, Paul Stanley, Joan Jett) – Vocals
CJ Vanston (Steve Lukather, King of Hearts, Eric Martin) – Keyboards
Jeff Babko (S. Lukather Band, Simon Phillips, Michael Landau) – Synths

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