Some people probably thought that Bob Catley would deliver his "magnum"-epic by means of this new Legends album. But even if this is a fine album, it is not the kind of material you have been waiting to hear all of your life. Moreover, there is little difference between Magnum, Hard Rain or Bob Catley solo and in fact, it sounds like an extension of the various ideas already expressed within his two groups. With the solid backing of guitarist Vinny Burns, bassist Steve McKenna, keyboardist (and producer) Gary Hughes (all members of Ten), along with Dante Fox's drummer Jon Cooksey, Catley takes us on a ride through prog/AOR land spread over ten new songs. Accessible, well crafted rock songs with a little bit of bombastic changes, plus a slight symphonic arrangement and a high "sing-along" factor (such as during "Carpe Diem"), that's about the recipe you get here. The melodramatic way of singing places Catley in the same league as the great Freddy Mercury (where style is concerned, not timbre!), whilst the music at times sounds like a soft version of Rhapsody ("Tender Is The Night"). Trying to link up Catley with Brian May could result in a superb (legal) firework display! Yet together with Gary Hughes, Catley is currently writing some new material for a third solo album to be called Lord Of The Rings, whilst Hughes is writing a rock opera, King Arthur, for which he has asked Catley to perform the role of Merlin. Both friends have a clear predilection for the Middle Ages, dragons, and gaols, and I'm convinced both musicians will certainly add to each other's creativity. Final track "Where The Heart Is" is the perfect drinking man's song which will certainly be sung by the entire crowd during concerts. Legends is the logical successor to The Tower, yet having the slaver drip from your mouth will probably not happen. Not this time anyway. Reviewed by : John ‘Bo Bo’ Bollenberg |
Released:
1999