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I
don’t think there’s any need to introduce Steve Overland, but just
in case…
Overland, alongside his brother Chris, came into the picture in the
early 80’s with Wildlife, a band that at one point had
drummer Simon Kirke (Bad Company) in their ranks. It was with
FM, though, that he reached his greatest success. Especially
their first two albums are considered AOR classics. Overland’s
remarkable voice is something of a cross between Paul Rodgers and
Steve Perry, pretty close to Robert Hart’s. His versatility has also
made him an in-demand contributor to tribute albums (Whitesnake,
Yes, Iron Maiden,…). After FM’s demise,
Overland featured in SO! and Shadowman - to
general critical acclaim, but, sadly, without a lot of success.
For this new album, Overland reunited with his old mates Pete Jupp (Wildlife,
FM, Samson, So!) and Bob Skeat (Wishbone Ash,
Wildlife, SO!). The original idea was to resurrect
FM, but for some reason or other, that didn’t happen. With new
guitarist Vinny Burns (Ten, Dare,
Asia, Ultravox)
now in tow, they decided for a fresh approach and a new band name.
Thus The Ladder was born (not to be confused with the US band
from the 80’s).
The album kicks off with a threesome of quite brilliant songs. Big
hooks, catchy melodies, great harmonies,… This is AOR-heaven. “Do
You Love Me Enough” in particular is a memorable song.
Unfortunately, the band can’t quite keep up that standard. Despite
its impressive beginning, “Dangerous” is as cliché-ridden as its
title suggests, and there are one or two more fillers. Fortunately,
Overland’s soulful voice is more than capable of lifting any song,
and with great tracks like “When Tomorrow Comes” and “Too Bad” to
follow, there’s really very little to complain about. Burns’ guitar
playing is solid, and well adapted to the polished AOR style, so
don’t expect the heavy riffing and flashy solos he used to play in
Ten.
“Future Miracles” is a fine album, with Overland’s glorious voice as
its main asset. A welcome addition to any AOR-fan’s collection. |
