WINDSOR DRIVE – Windsor Drive (2015)
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Coming from the USA are this quartet called WINDSOR DRIVE which international self-titled full length CD is being released by AOR Heaven Records.
Windsor Drive are not newcomers at all: formed ten years ago and with various recordings under their belt, the band has already toured all over America and Japan, where they have a strong fan base.
Being signed by AOR Heaven you would expect, indeed, an AOR oriented product. And indeed Windsor Drive deliver delicious songs from the lighther spectre of the genre; light poppy AOR with lush melodies, elaborated vocal harmonies and a touch of WestCoast.
With many songs sounding like they should be on any ’80s movie soundtrack or charting high if released 25 years ago, this album feels like fresh breeze on your face in a Californian beach.
To back up their rock credentials some of the songs were produced by multi-platinum producer John Fields, others by Grammy award winner Stephen Short (Phil Collins) and the rest by power pop master Bleu.
But on most the songs on “Windsor Drive” the key is the melody, no matter the background arrangements.
There’s soft numbers in the radio-friendly “Wide Eyed At Midnight”, while the gentle poppy-guitar AOR refrain of “Wish Me Well” would be a shoe-in on Chris Antblad’s daytime playlist if given a chance.
Windsor Drive have a good line in vocal harmonies as can be heard on “Bridges” and the blissful “Chasing Shores”. I guess you could just about class this album as modern WestCoast AOR on songs like “Sleepwalking”.
“Skin to Skin” adds more guitars to the mix with nice synths behind, while the elegant “Fall” will pleast many with its increscendo midtempo melody.
“Windsor Drive” are perfect for those who enjoy mature light poppy AOR with a rock&pop sensibility.
Just hope AOR Heaven know how to market these guys as they are not like the normal fare on their roster, but I’m sure there’s a strong base of potential listeners for this breezy melodic material all over the continent. It worked for Ole Borud, Stefan Gunnarsson, State Cows, the aforementioned Antblad and many others, all which sold pretty well.
These are an enjoyable pack of glorious poppy AOR songs played with heart, rich in elaborated melodies and gorgeous vocal arrangements.
Very Recommended.
You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox
01 – Going Under
02 – Sleepwalking
03 – Bridges
04 – Under the Weather
05 – Wish Me Well
06 – Skin to Skin
07 – In Dreams
08 – Wide Eyed at Midnight
09 – Fall
10 – Everything I Have
11 – Chasing Shores
Kipp Wilde – Vocals, Keyboards
Daniel Sukow – Guitars, Vocals
Jon Wasleske – Bass
Owen Jones – Drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Windsor-Drive/dp/B00SU7H17U
www.aorheaven.com/index.php/englisch_b/windsor-drive-windsor-drive.html
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