Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Hughes Turner Project
Label: MTM Records
Released: 2002
Rating: 3.5/5
What happens when two indestructible lead vocalists join forces in one project, surrounded by first-rate instrumentalists? Two people, two approaches. When the energy of both combines and doubles. The opening “Devil’s Road” is led from the front by a Hammond organ assault, marked by a dynamic, very Purple-style live rhythm. And just wait till the song really comes alive, when the “raspy” Joe jumps in first, then Glenn takes over, and then they hit the chorus together! That’s it! Of course, they’ve carefully worked out all the backing vocal lines and layered them under the main lines of their singing, so the sound and the contrast are even fuller.
The tonal contrast of the voices and the different stylistic approach of the two singers bring incredible dynamics to the songs. Of course, the songs aren’t just a playground for the two vocalists to indulge themselves; they’re compact, polished, expressive compositions where every musician’s contribution sits in lovely balance. In the opening “Devil’s Road”, “Run Run Run”, “Ride The Storm”, the bonus track “Against The Wall” or “Missed Your Name” you can catch a whiff of good old Deep Purple, which both singers were once members of. There’s even room on the record for the seductive funky “Sister Midnight”.
The legends are backed by first-rate musicians who have a feel for this kind of music in their blood. A playful, wound-up, dynamic rhythm section (Glenn naturally grabs his bass too), tastefully woven-in Hammond lines that fill out the sound, and magical guitar adventures! We’re treated to a thundering crossfire of Hammond and guitar solos spitting flames (e.g. “On The Ledge”). Still, the main, leading stamp on every song of course comes from the two legendary voices.
Constant swapping of the two lead vocals within the verses. Both stand out with an incredible sense of improvisation. Sometimes they pull an extremely thin vocal line while singing, other times they fire off full sizzling bursts, and all the while they adapt perfectly to nothing but their raw “feel”. Try Hughes in “Better Man”, for example. When his sheer mastery literally knocks you out of your skin. And with such incredible ease. In the choruses the singers usually double their strength, since they sing them together. Superior contrast and atmosphere thus go up another gear, peaking in songs like “Heaven’s Missing An Angel”, “Fade Away” and especially in the most masterfully built composition, “On The Ledge”.
An incredibly vivid sound, burning in the purifying fire of emotions. A new classic from masters of vocal improvisation. The songs capture the incredible intensity of their pure “feel”. Yet another installment in the series called “hard rock”, in all its unspoiled authenticity, flawless beauty and total magic.
Line-up
Glenn Hughes – vocals, bass guitar
Joe Lynn Turner – vocals
J.J. Marsh – guitar
Shane Galaas – drums, percussion
Vince Dicola – keyboards
Guest musicians:
John Sykes – guitar on “Heaven’s Missing An Angel”
Paul Gilbert – guitar on “You Can’t Stop Rock N’ Roll”
Akira Kajiyama – guitar on “Ride The Storm”
Production
Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner & Michael Scott
Track list
01. Devil’s Road (5:45)
02. You Can’t Stop Rock N’ Roll (4:45)
03. Missed Your Name (5:09)
04. Mystery Of The Heart (5:57)
05. Sister Midnight (5:03)
06. Better Man (5:28)
07. Heaven’s Missing An Angel (7:11)
08. Fade Away (6:55)
09. Ride The Storm (3:53)
10. Run Run Run (3:54)
11. On The Ledge (7:12)
12. Against The Wall (Japanese Bonus Track) (4:36)
