This is the first solo album from Journey’s founder and guitarist, Neal Schon. He recorded this at the same time Steve Perry was recording his first solo album. He doesn’t step too far away from his day job, as the album is a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks. He does all the vocals as well as all guitars.
It starts with a short little intro piece called Le Dome before we get into the album properly with the title track. It feels just like a Journey track; a slow brooding ballad but with Neal providing the melody with guitar instead of voice. Superb playing and Neal is for sure one of the greats as his phrasing and tone is top drawer. Softly is more of the same, but this time Neal provides vocal to accompany the guitar.
Next up are two instrumentals to close out Side 1. The Theme is very cinematic, and as the title suggests, it feels like a theme to a movie. The last piece is I’ll Be Waiting, and the vibe is very similar.
On Side 2, the vibe and groove are a lot more uptempo with I’ll Cover You. Rains Coming Down starts with very Santana style runs, and the track just builds and builds till the main chorus which has a very funky groove. Smoke Of The Revolution is my least favourite track, even though the guitar playing is cool. Inner Circles is my favourite on this album; a killer instrumental with a superb main riff and groove, and Neal really gives it everything on this piece. Steps is another cinematic theme piece before we get to album closer, Blackened Bacon. It starts with Neal just ripping up the frets until we settle down into an acoustic blues romp. A really enjoyable record.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
