DAYLIGHT ROBBERY – Cross Your Heart… & Hope To Die (2011)
It was been a long road for DAYLIGHT ROBBERY since the very early Nineties when the Birmingham, UK band recorded some exciting demos in the trend of the moment with the typical AOR flavour similar in style to the likes of Tobruk or Shy. The group toured the islands supporting several established bands but never actually recorded anything.
Respected singer Tony Nicholl continued in the music business as part of different projects, keeping in touch with DR original guitarist Mark Carleton.
Then earlier past decade they decided to reborn Daylight Robbery to finally record the band’s debut: “Cross Your Heart… & Hope To Die” includes some songs written in the 80s / early 90s ago and new material as well. The band defines their sound as ‘Heavy Melodic AOR Rock’.
And indeed Daylight Robbery blend these genres here, being the first six tracks on the album obviously the Eighties songs in the classy AOR vein we all love, while the new compositions are more hard, even hard ‘n heavy style-wise.
Opener “Cross Your Heart” is a wonderful classic AOR stomper, in the best early Shy fashion. A very melodic and marching tune with all the lovely ’80s tips to be a winner. Solid guitars, fat bass lines, synths galore and monster chorus. Nicholl has that kind of British, strong and powerful, but controlled voice that can reach high notes but feels melodic at the same time.
The band maintain a high standard in the songwriting on the following tracks.
“Shame On You” rocks with an insistent melody to die for. This is a great melodic rocker with a pump not present on the actual bands in the genre.
“While You Were Sleeping” is a song that melodic rock bands doesn’t write anymore. It’s a pure, solid as a stone euro melodic rocker with a catchy rhythm but with power and force. The chorus is terrific and the blistering guitar solo rocks. Awesome track.
“Crossing The Great Divide” is a little gem. Runs 8 min, but don’t expect a ‘prog’ long track here. This is simply a great AOR tune. Starts as a ballad with a piano / synth and soaring vocals, then in the middle the pace increases to a midtempo full of magic, remembering the first House Of Lords. They add a beautiful synth orchestrated part as well. Really good and original track.
“R E U N I T E” has a semi-midtempo AOR structure, although the guitars are strong and the chorus is contagious.
It’s not specified, but seems with “Real Love Is The Answer” begins the new written material. This one is a melodic rocker with a more modern approach and different guitar sound, but retaining the big harmony vocals and the catchiness. Good one.
“Shes’ Got Me Understood” is a simple but fresh melodic hard rocker with some retro keyboards and tongue-in-cheek vibe. In the last two tracks “1.000 Points Of Light” and “In The Line Of Fire” the band explores a new territory. Hard ‘n heavy tracks, strong, but I prefer the preceding material.
It took more than twenty years for Daylight Robbery to finally release their debut album, but well worth it. “Cross Your Heart… & Hope To Die” is marvelous trip back to the golden years of the British Melodic Rock / AOR. And I punctuate this for the songwriting on offer here.
Daylight Robbery has ‘that’ 80s magic vibe lost on many acts of the genre nowadays. Self produced but with a really good polished sound, you have all the time the whole impression that this is a band who know exactly what they’re doing. And they do wonders.
I am a sucker for this kind of material, and I am pretty sure that you, Classy Rockin’ AOR fan, will enjoy this album as sybarites.
Impressive
01 – Cross Your Heart
02 – Shame On You
03 – The Perfect Storm
04 – While You Were Sleeping
05 – Crossing The Great Divide
06 – R E U N I T E
07 – Real Love Is The Answer
08 – Shes’ Got Me Understood
09 – 1.000 Points Of Light
10 – In The Line Of Fire
Tony Nicholl – Vocals, Guitar
Mark Carleton – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Colin Murdoch – Bass, Backing Vocals
Duncan Cook – Keyboards
Ben Dixon – Drums
BUY IT
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01K8NL0I4
