HARRY HESS / LIVING IN YESTERDAY (2012)

The release of an album by Harry Hess of the legendary Harem Scarem  is always good news for fans of melodic sound. With Harem Scarem, he released some truly amazing albums and wrote their name with golden letters in the melodic scene. Also, the singer's attempt to release a solo album in 2003 titled "Just Another Day" can be described more than successful. In 2010, he released the brilliant and already classic project First Signal that reminds the early sound of the first two Harem Scarem efforts.


 We come to now and the new release of Harry Hess, which is titled "Living In Yesteday". The truth with this artist is that from him we expect quality, tight and catchy songs, strong orchestrations and amazing performances. For "Living In Yesteday" he co-operates with his long time friends from Harem Scarem (Pete Lesperance, Darren Smith & Creighton Doane) and, also, with the mighty Tommy Denander, Marcie Free and Magnus Karlsson among others. From the first notes of  "Living In Yesteday", the nice memories and the 'ghost' of Harem Scarem is the first impression that the listener gets! The chorus, the orchestrations, the performances ... and generally everything is in perfect harmony in this opener!!! "It's Over" is a  melancholic and somewhat 'dark' tune but is certainly one of the highlights here!!

"Don't Leave Me" is catchier and at the same time has a more modern feeling and the chorus line; killer!!! This track has stuck in my mind over the last week! Simply amazing! "Nothing Lasts Forever" and the rhythms are more up-tempo in one of the top songs of this year. In "I Live For You" we have a classic Harem Scarem song to get to the very interesting moment of  "I Don't Wanna Want You". Modern pop-rock with a groove and a Hess that reminds me a bit of Jeff Scott Soto works!!!!
 
Concluding my review, I must say that the "Living In Yesteday" is one of the pleasant releases for 2012, and probably the most important to date with the H.E.A.T.  and two or three others. Tremendous melodies, catchy songs, great performances, production ....do I have to say more?? 
HeavyParadise's Rating: 9/10

Track List :
1. Living In Yesterday
2. Reach For You
3. It's Over
4. Don't Leave Me
5. What If
6. Nothing Lasts Forever
7. Falling Down
8. I Live For You
9. I Don't Wanna Want You
10. Where To Run