Album Review: First Signal - Closer To The Edge

When I say 'it's all about the songs', sometimes it might not be clear exactly what I'm saying. Yes, there is a level of importance to who is playing and singing on them, but that can only take you so far. No matter how much you like a guitar player, or a singer, if they don't have a great song to perform, the results can only be so good. This new album from First Signal is a perfect illustration of that point. Harry Hess is a tremendous melodic rock vocalist, and the last two albums from his main band, Harem Scarem, are as good as any I've ever heard in the genre. That would make you think another album of him singing songs in the same style should be an easy win, right?

That's where you would be wrong. First Signal has been steadily releasing albums, and despite Harry's huge abilities, they don't make nearly the same impact on me as those Harem Scarem records. They're trying to do the same things, and they have similar sounds, but the difference in songwriting, both tone and quality, is enormous.

The collected cast of writers for this record are good, but they are from the melodic rock factory, and as such these songs sound just like everything else they do. They are missing anything in particular that separates First Signal from all the others. This project sounds like a project, because it's hard to come away from this record really feeling like you know what its voice is supposed to sound like. Harry pulls everything together as much as he can, but the songs sound more anonymous than those of his main band.

The main thing holding them back is the lack of power. It's melodic rock, sure, but that doesn't mean the songs have to scrub away their rock credentials. Even though the guitars have plenty of gain, they never sound heavy. Everything on the record is just a little bit too soft, when includes some of Harry's vocals. There's a sense of this record being an obligation that cuts through at times, because elements are too perfect, too smooth.

If you were to take these songs and put them in the hands of Harem Scarem, the album would wind up sounding very much in line with what they already do. It wouldn't be nearly as good, though, and that's the point. It isn't enough to get talented people together, nor is it enough to make music that sounds pretty. Songs are harder to quantify than that, and this project doesn't take that into account enough. It's all perfectly pleasant, but when I think about what it sounds like when done at its best, as Harry has done, it feels like a milquetoast recreation.

First Signal is a fine way to spend some time, and it's lovely background music. What it's not is truly vital and important. You will certainly get some enjoyment out of listening to this record, but you're not going to miss out on anything if you don't give it a chance. You're better served listening to Harem Scarem's "Change The World", because that's the benchmark this record is flailing while trying to reach.