This project is based on the idea of writing songs in the classic style of the 80s and then recording them as duets. To give the record it’s own identity all songs are sung by one main lead vocalist while the featured duet partners are picked individually for each tune because of their special musical talents. The idea came from Pierpaolo “Zorro 11” Monti (drums – Shining Line, Lionville) together with Davide “Dave Rox” Barbieri (lead vocals & keyboards – Wheels Of Fire) and Amos Monti (bass - Shining Line, Lionville). Most of the songs for the album are written by Zorro together with Dave but they also chose two covers, Bon Jovi’s “Everybody’s Broken” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Leave A Light On”. All they had to do then was convince others to get onboard, some of whom hadn’t recorded for years such as David Forbes, who fronted Canadian act Boulevard in the late 80s and early 90s.
Other guests on lead vocals included Bente Smaavik (Perfect Crime, Blonde On Blonde), Thomas Lassar (Crystal Blue), Henrik Launbjerg (Toys Of Joy) and Kimmo Bloom (Urban Tale), Moon Calhoun (Michael Thompson Band), who is accompanied by his mate Jeff Paris on backing vocals. The new generation is represented by Nick Workman (Vega), Stefano Lionetti (Lionville), Michele Luppi (Los Angeles), Josh Zighetti (Hungryheart) and Gui Oliver (Auras). In addition to Bente the female parts are performed by Jesse Galante and Aurë.
Among the ranks of the guitarists are the Swedes Sven Larsson (Street Talk, Lionville) and Peter Friestedt (Williams/Friestedt), Italian string masters Roberto Priori (Danger Zone), Mario Percudani (Hungryheart, Shining Line, Mitch Malloy), Stefano Lionetti (Lionville), Mario Manzani (Florence 99), Steve De Biasi (Gunshy), Stefano Zeni (Wheels Of Fire), Andrea Lanza (Skill In Veins), Carmine Martone and Matteo Serra, while Tom Martin (Vega) is representing the UK. Additional guests are Boris Matakovic (Human Zoo) on saxophone as well as James Martin (Vega) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Shining Line, Lionville, Hardline) on keyboards and backing vocalists Michael Carrata (Soul Seller), Franco Campanella (Myland) and Tomas Borgogna (Borgogna).
But a million musicians and singers does not always a good project make, but here we have something that is a real joy to listen to. Fourteen songs, more than 70 minutes long, and somehow it still isn’t enough. The guys have managed to make it sound more like a band than a project, which isn’t an easy task with this amount of people involved, with The Babys and Talisman apparently being musical points of reference. If you enjoy AOR, then this is something that is absolutely essential, and if you want to know why then just turn to the very last song on the CD, the cover of “Leave A Light On”. The guys have taken this song and really own it, staying true to the original but making it their own – it works incredibly well as a duet and the vocals are banging. I cold listen to this all day, just wonderful.
http://www.avenue-of-allies.com
