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Robert Hart: Pure
Robert Hart - Pure Art Work

Robert Hart: Pure

AOR/Melodic Rock
4.5/5.0

Label
Escape Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 19.02.2020 | Released: 21.02.2020

Robert Hart may not quite be a "household" name in melodic hard rock for some readers, but you do know him. The English vocalist and guitarist has performed with The Distance, Bad Company, and more recently with Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Additionally, since 1989 Hart has released nine studio albums, with 1992's Robert Hart the most successful and getting him the gig with Bad Company. Now Hart returns with a new solo album, Pure, which feature Tommy Denander (g,k) (Alice Cooper, Steve Walsh, et al), Brian Anthony (b) (Steve Walsh, Overland), and Steve Overland (bgv) (FM, Shadowman, et al.)

Robert Hart - Click For Larger Image

Robert Hart

Pure, as a musical work, is something of a blast from the past. With one spin through, I found myself reminiscing about the Eighties music scene, basically that merger between melodic hard rock and synth-infused pop and new wave music. Overall the songs, have that peppy, upbeat, and funky groove which blurs the line between rock and dance music. The instrumental elements add to this. The synths are spry adding to both the pop and dance feeling, yet also offering atmosphere by embellishment. The guitar lines are similar with, on one hand, brisk rock riffs, and on the other hand, jazzy funk-like rhythms. Yet, every song has a blistering, typical (in the very best sense) rock guitar solo. Additionally, sometimes the drums can sound like the electronic kits that wormed their way into music via the pop and new wave scene. However, I suspect Michael Lange plays traditional skins. For his part, Mr Hart sings clean and melodic, perhaps with some rock rasp, but never straining or stretching beyond his limits. After this, all these things are wrapped up in most basic of Eighties musical sensibility: AOR accessibility.

With the formula established, you'll hear the musical pattern repeated throughout the album. For some of that funky rock hybrid, listen for Making Magic, Go Crazy, Chemistry, This Is It, and Different People with it's jazzy riffage. Alternatively, Hart seems to lean more to AOR melodic rock, even a tad heavier at times, with Sensational, Mysterious, and the fast riff rocker Double Trouble. Surprisingly, there's no song that approaches a traditional ballad. All in all, Robert Hart's Pure is fine and entertaining interpretation of Eighties music, whence a fusion was made between AOR melodic hard rock and synth-driven pop and new wave sounds. Recommended.


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The Bottom Line

Robert Hart's Pure is fine and entertaining interpretation of Eighties music, whence a fusion was made between AOR melodic hard rock and synth-driven pop and new wave sounds. Recommended.

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