The demise of Harem Scarem was a sad, but not unexpected day. The band seemed to have run their course with the guys not really sure what type of musical direction to pursue and still keep the fans onboard. When I first heard about this CD I imagined that First Signal were a band that Harry Hess was mentoring. Instead, it turns out that First Signal is more of a project which teams up Harry Hess with Dennis Ward and a bunch of 80s style songwriters. The objective being to recreate the sound of the early Harem Scarem albums - namely S/T and Mood Swings. I have to say from the start that I'm a bit surprised that Harry Hess's first endeavor since then demise of Harem Scarem is what seems to be a backward step. I always figured that once freed from the shackles of Harem Scarem the guys would do something different, maybe in the power pop field which I always thought was where they wanted Harem Scarem to be accepted.
Putting my preconceived ideas to one side for the moment, upon listening to this album it is hard for me not to be very impressed. What we have is the promised set of catchy melodic rock and AOR songs which pay homage to the style of the early Harem Scarem albums. Without the input of the rest of the guys in Harem Scarem (apart from Darren Smith), it isn't quite the genuine article. But it is damned close and it is hard to find fault. If you were to force me to be pedantic, then it verges on the side of being too polite and polished. It feels like the album has been put together according to a mathematical equation carefully constructed to hit the heartstrings of its intended audience.
I have to admit that at various stages I bemoaned Harem Scarem's power pop dabbling, but in the end I realised that they were actually doing something a little different in a steadfastly uninventive genre of music. I actually assumed that the band disbanded because the fans wanted to trap them in the past. I guess I was wrong about that one. Harry has revisited the early days of Harem Scarem in a very successful manner.
Rating: 5 stars
