This album (from start to finish) is as enjoyable as hell and definitely contains a Eurovision winner or two.
Room Experience (really... are ALL the cool names actually gone?) is the brainchild of Italian keyboardist/vocalist Gianluca Firmo and David Readman (Pink Cream 69); it also features a smattering of guests including the likes of Alessandro Del Vecchio and Sven Larsson (Street Talk, Shining Line) lending their talents to the project.
Kicking off with 'Shock Me', it's apparent that RE are operating in the European Melodic Rock field not a million miles away from Readman's main gig with PC69, although perhaps not as aggressive and leaning a lot much closer towards a more AOR-like sound.
'Queen Of Every Heart' and 'One Way Out' solidifies this thought, however it's on the album's remaining tracks that it becomes more than apparent. Whilst Firmo and Readman have an unashamed love of power chords, they are not afraid to tread a softer line on this album with some stunning examples of AOR balladry such as 'Run To You', 'Another Day Without You', 'The Only Truth' and 'Rainbow In The Rain'.
If you have ever wondered what Readman would sound like singing and taking a much more AOR-based approach, well here is the answer and the wait has been worth it. Despite travelling a heavier road with the Pinkies, Readman has all the power and delivery of a master and I for one cannot fault his delivery on anything here.
Apart from perhaps one or two tracks that fall into the filler category, this album (from start to finish) is as enjoyable as hell and definitely contains a Eurovision winner or two – apparently the power ballad is back in Eurovision and as far as power ballads go, RE reel them off for fun.
This may be only the debut album from Room Experience but I definitely look forward to a second album.
Kieran Dargan