Paul Rodgers/ Midnight Rose

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Paul Rodgers/ Morning Rose

Genre: Rock

Label: Heartstar Music/ Sun

Rating: ****

For a generation of rock fans, Paul Rodgers is right up there on the list of vocalists. His work with the bands Free and Bad Company in the 1970s was followed by a collaboration with ace guitarist Jimmy Page in The Firm, and another stint with drummer Kenney Jones in The Law. Cut to the 2000s and though he's done a fair bit of live performance, he's been less active on the studio front, the only release being The Cosmos Rocks with the remaining Queen members in 2008.

As such, his latest album Midnight Rose is warmly welcome, as it comes 23 years after his previous solo outing Electric. On paper, Rodgers is 73 now, but that's quite hard to believe. His voice is still fresh, melodious and dynamic, taking you back to vintage Bad Company, even reminding you of albums like Run With The Pack, Desolation Angels and Rough Diamonds.

He's playing with a new band too, the only regular past companion being bassist Todd Ronning, who's done many live shows with him. On guitar are Ray Roper and Keith Scott, the hugely underrated genius who plays with Bryan Adams. Drummer Rick Fedyk and keyboardist Chris Gestrin complete the line-up. If you're wondering why Rodgers, a Britisher by birth, is accompanied by an all-Canadian group, it's because he has taken citizenship of that country, after marrying model Cynthia Kereluk. Interestingly, Cynthia has co-produced the record with Bob Rock.

The eight-track album, spread over 32 minutes, uses the standard Bad Co formula, combining blues-inspired rock numbers with soulful ballads. The opening track 'Coming Home', about a man returning to his companion, has smooth rhythm guitar and drums, as Rodgers sings, "My heart's fully loaded and my soul is inspired, 'cause soon I'll be holding you, my one desire; Coming home again, my love, coming home again".

'Photo Shooters' is trademark hard rock, but the title track provides a change in mood. Starting with an acoustic, country-ish melody, it reflects the soulful side of Rodgers. "If there was a red rose in a smoky room, I'm sure that rose would fade and die; But if I took her from the smoke and the gloom, I'm sure she would spring to life", he sings, 

'Living It Up', the album's first single, pays homage to American music forms like the blues, soul and rock n' roll, and artistes Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.  'Dance In The Sun' begins with a flamenco guitar, and has a lilt aided by effervescent back-up vocals. 'Take Love', part of the Rodgers live set for over a decade, finds its first studio outing, as he philosophically sings, "Take love when you find it, 'cause it may not come so easy next time; And when you find it, I'm offering this lonely heart of mine". Scott's brilliant fill-ins and short solo, and Gestrin's keyboard back-up add to the vibrancy.

'Highway Robber' is written in narrative style, telling the story of how circumstances force a man to become an outlaw. And finally, there's the album closer 'Melting', a track that takes its time to grow, but totally mesmerises after a few listens. Starting almost like Delta blues, it travels in the company of understated guitars and lines about solitude into power ballad territory. From the opening lines, "I close my eyes, fall on my knees, Almighty God, hearing my pleas; Get behind me, troubled time, get behind me, troubled mind" to the closing, "Bird on the wire, Sage on the wind, cold grip of winter, melting, melting, melting, melting", this is songwriting genius all the way.

Cynics may point out there are no big numbers of the calibre of 'All Right Now', 'Ready For Love', 'Feel Like Makin' Love' or 'Run With The Pack' from the earlier Rodgers repertoire. But there's a certain consistency about Midnight Rose that makes it admirable. Surely, at his age, Rodgers still believes in 'Movin On' in his world of 'Rock n' Roll Fantasy'.