Arc Angel-Harlequins of Light

Frontiers Records
2013

If it's on Frontiers Records then you just know that this album is going to custom-made for a certain type of rock fan. In this case I actually start things off with a question. Whose up for some majestic melodic rock/AOR?  If that choice of words (majestic+melodic rock+AOR) just gave you goosebumps then just stop what you're doing and go hunt down this album. You won't be disappointed. For everyone else though lets take apart this album and see what we come up with. More or less this is just Jeff Cannata who, in addition to providing lead and background vocals, drums, bass, keyboards and guitars, produced "Harlequins of Light" with a little help from some friends. As a founding member of both the New Haven-based progressive rock band Jasper Wrath (which featured future House Of Lords' front-man James Christian) and Arc Angel (whose 1983 album is considered a classic in the field of AOR) Jeff Cannata has managed to have a long and successful career. He's done that through not only the two previous bands, but also as a solo act. So yes, there is quite a bit of expectation attached to his name and any project he participates in. Thankfully this long-time-coming new Arc Angel album holds true to his style of excellence. Said to "metaphorically" build a bridge between all of Cannata’s "different musical eras: from the commercial and pompous Melodic Rock of the early eighties, to the more Prog and Hi-tech musical material of his most recent solo albums" this 3rd Arc Angel release features track after track of damn near perfect melodic rock and AOR. With the added bonus being a well-done/re-worked  "Fortune Teller", which is a song from his now rare album "Images of Forever", this new release from Jeff and varies guest musicians* is most definitely a must-have for the melodic rock and AOR crowd!

*In addition to Jeff Cannata this new Arc Angel album features:
Jeff Batter: Acoustic Piano, Synths
Jay Rowe: Organ, Synths
Scott Spray: Bass Guitar
David Coe: Acoustic Guitar
Jimi Bell, Gary Maus, Andy Abel, Tony Spada, Mark Proto, Jay Jesse Johnson: Lead Guitars
Pete Hodson: Background Vocals, Synths