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The title says it all about this release, where this record
is a ‘dream’ collaboration between guitarist Josh Ramos (The
Storm, Hardline, Two Fires) and vocalist Hugo (Open Skyz,
Valentine). The Dream is one of those albums that is filled
with gigantic choruses, fluid melodic overtones that never
end, and a sparkling sense of technical endurance to compliment
the overall musical mindset – but of course, it’s about the
songs.
In the style of the duo’s musical endeavors, The Dream
has a balance of stadium styled anthems (“You Are Not Alone,”
“Bring Back this Love,” and “Tomorrow”) to emotive laden AOR
gems including “All that I Wanted,” “I Don’t Want to Say Goodbye,”
and the ballad “In the City” beholding the perfect backseat
fodder, where the record offers the spark of hard rock edge
with the perfect amount of heaviness, given Ramos’s Schon-esque
axe attack touch, all the while keeping sentiment at bay the
without any overindulgence in the poignant department – only
hearkening the phrase, “why can’t this be on top 40 radio.”
The skillful melodies are enhanced by keyboardist Eric
Rango (Vox Tempus), drummer John Macaluso (Starbreaker), and
bassist/producer Fabrizio Grossi, making this not only a super
group in the physical sense, but one in the literal as hearing
the result. Those who dig records such as Journey’s Raised
on Radio, Triumph’s The Sport of Kings, Street Talk’s V, and
Frederiksen/Denander’s Baptism by Fire dare not miss out on
this one. The Dream is another one of those albums that really
keeps the bar raised on AOR these days, offering up unbelievably
addictive tunes, hooks, and melodies – so this better not
be a one-off project!
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