Proudly pulling glam rock into the present with its undeniable sense of joy and swagger, Rob Alexander’s “Dream out Loud” is one of rare, perfect pieces of pop. The band makes it sound effortless yet it is anything but – what is heard is the result of several decades’ worth of playing at the behest of Elton John as his backing band. Rob serves as the unifying force of the entire album with a presence that truly announces itself. Lyrics themselves are poetic in nature for he balances the verses deftly to create a warm inviting aural universe.
The influences and references abound throughout the whole of the album, with clear nods to David Bowie’s late 70s output. Akin to that sound, Rob’s voice rises above the rest of the band with a commanding yet compassionate presence. Nor does he stick with this singular source of inspiration, for the songs have a strong sense of community, touching upon Queen’s best works. Best of all the way that he structures the sound is for it to be large and all-encompassing. Thus, volume is a must for this is a sound best felt as well as heard.
Neon-infused synthesizer melodies frame the beautiful opener “Yesterday’s News”. A party-like atmosphere takes over for the beat radiates pure energy. The mixture of funk and pop makes the title track “Dream Out Loud” a playful piece of work. By far the heart and soul of the album comes from the tremendous cinematic sweep of “A Song To Get Us Through”. Evolution of the sound adds to its majestic aura with a celebration of togetherness. A joyous groove with an incredible rhythm section weaves its way through “Nothing To Be Afraid of Now”. Stripping things down to the essentials is the intimate journey of “Love Will Find You”.
“Olivia” stuns with its multifaceted, multi-layered spirit that embodies pure triumph. Fantastic piano work underpins the pastoral imagery of “Angel and Johnny”. Gorgeous spaghetti western flair defines the intense urgency of “Hot Potato”. Fanfare punctuates the power of “Look Out Below”. With a jazzy inclination “La Flambeau” ambles on by in a lush blur of color. Another highlight rolls through on “Kings and Queens” for the entirety of the piece bursts with so much energy, with Rob’s vocals in particular being a true delight. Neatly tying it all together and working as a perfect summary is the intense “Game Over”.
Rob Alexander delivers something so real and so soulful on the spirited journey of “Dream out Loud”.
“Dream out Loud” is slated for release on February 5, 2021.
