AOR Heaven (2012)

Best known for his work with German based outfits like Tokyo and Craaft, guitarist/songwriter Klaus Luley has been away from the melodic rock scene for nearly two decades. Joining Klaus on this “Today’s Tomorrow” album are session musicians Chris Elbers on drums and Matthias Rethmann on bass- with Luley handling the guitars, keyboards and vocals for the 11 songs.

Featuring a 2012 update of his “Tokyo” hit single from almost 30 years ago (recently taken on by At Vance as well on their newest album), the other 10 songs are a great mix of Luley’s affinity for most 80’s AOR/melodic rock artists. Songs such as “Mountain of Love” or “Don’t Wanna See Your Face” have much in common with Toto, Richard Marx, Rick Springfield, and so forth. The main riff  for “Higher” has this chord structure and picking that could be a distant cousin to Rick Springfield’s “Don’t Talk To Strangers”- although the harmony background vocals are more in a Little River Band vein. Klaus has a comfortable, smooth voice that evokes a sassy personality like Bobby Kimball or Zak Stevens on the blues based “Here In My Arms”. Topping things off is the bright Michael Voss production- the man knows how to get every tone and instrument with the right dynamic energy so your speakers come alive when these tracks hit your ears.

George Siegl at AOR Heaven knows when talent needs to return to the scene, and I’m so glad Luley gains another opportunity to give the listeners a wonderful slice of melodic rock with “Today’s Tomorrow”. Klaus still has the solo chops and songwriting skills to pay the bills and then some- a great record to prove that those into melodic rock can still find worthy material to treasure in today’s scene.

www.aorheaven.com

Rating: 5 / 6

Composed by Matt Coe