Arcara - A Matter Of Time

Tracks:

Gunshy
Lost In Time
Eternal Affair
Never Tell Your Dreams Goodbye
Walk Away
Fight Ain't Over
A Matter Of Time
Blond & Blue
Far Cry From You
Let It Ride
Love In The First Degree
Believer

Producer: Steve DeAcutis
Year: 1997
Label: Escape Music Ltd.

Total Playing Time: 56:45 m:s

I've reviewed quite few Escape releases now. Prior to this one, the POD album was my favourite. Well, there's a new entry straight in at No. 1 in my Escape chart. In fact, I think this is No. 1 in my 1997 chart.

Arcara is another Escape duo. Not content with pairing off Chris Ousey and Kenny Loney, they've got together Russell Arcara (ex-Prophet/Surgin) and Steve DeAcutis. Guess what, it took me a while to figure out where I'd seen the name before, in fact it didn't click until I'd typed it the previous paragraph, but Steve DeAcutis was a member of POD.

Like quite a few of the Escape releases, this one fits into the heavy AOR/melodic hard rock category. What sets this apart from the crowd is that Russell Arcara has a great voice and Steve DeAcutis has penned a collection of memorable songs.

Comparison wise I'd say that Eyes meets Harem Scarem is fairly good description.

Gunshy is a big beat to start off the album. What strikes me straight away is that Russell sounds a lot like Jeff Scott Soto. Although I don't always love all the projects he gets involved with, I think JSS has one of the best voices in Rock.On Lost In Time the big vocal harmonies kick in, that's where the Harem Scarem comparison comes from.

By the time Eternal Affair starts I'm beginning to wonder why I've never heard any of Russell's work before. It slows the pace down, but the chorus 'socks it to ya' in style.On Never Tell Your Dream Goodbye the pace is again slower during the verse, but picks up for the chorus. It's the type of song I can imagine fitting on an Eyes album.

On Walk Away I initially thought that the guys had let the quality slip, but it has grown on me. Fight Ain't Over has a slightly different feel, with some organ sounds coming into play and a more relaxed overall atmosphere. The title track, A Matter Of Time, reminds me of RTZ.

Blonde & Blue is straight ahead hard rock which I'm sure I'd be less keen on if it was handled by someone less qualified in the vocals department. Far Cry From You is a power ballad which is the first song where my attention starts to wander. Let It Ride doesn't get my attention back.

With Love In The First Degree I'm focused on the music again. Believer sees the band trying something slightly different by using funky/jazz guitars and Jeff Scott Soto springs to mind again.

Some of my fave albums are by Harem Scarem, Giant and Eyes. All these are characterised by great vocals (both lead and backing), plus guitar players which know how to rock out without getting self-indulgent. Arcara share these characteristics, so it's maybe not so surprising that I'm raving about this one. I wouldn't say that it's perfect. There are a couple of numbers which let the side down, but there are enough good songs to fit onto one side of a C90 tape.

Rating: 9