On disc: Dare

 
 Beneath The Shining Waters
 
- Sandra Bucher -
 
 


 
 Arc Of The Dawn
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Arc Of The Dawn
 
- Gisela Schmitz -
 
 


 
 Calm Before The Storm 2
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Calm Before The Storm 2

(Legend Records - 2012)



 
 

 

Darren Wharton many hard rock fans know from his Thin Lizzy days, in the mid-80's he started his own band, Dare. Among the hard rock and melodic rock fans he has many devoted fans and they will know Calm Before The Storm, the 1998 released studio album which was a Europe-only release. Now he has the rights for his songs and so he re-recorded the songs - including 2 tracks which didn't make it onto the original release - and now the album is available not just in Europe.



The album opens like the 1998 release with Walk On The Water, a melodic rocker which will hook you up. But after the title track Calm Before The Storm it changes, Crown Of Thorns is now following and next in line is the previously unreleased Precious. As the newly recorded album has the same number of songs, two have been replaced by previously unreleased tunes - it's Still In Love With You and Run To Me which got the axe. Precious fits in perfectly, the guitar sings and Wharton's vocals will embrace the listener. The other 'new' tune is Cold Wind Will Blow and it's placed just before the closer Deliverance. As on the other tunes you get a dash of Celtic sounds embedded in Darren Wharton's compositions - and once more it's the vocals and the singing guitar which create the songs identity.



Fans of Darren Wharton who own the 1998 release should check out the new version, the new recordings sound great and the 'new' songs are a nice bonus. No sarcasm, I really mean it - thanks for this 'new' album!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Arc Of The Dawn

(Legend Records - 2009)



 
 

 

Dare celebrate their 20th anniversary and Mr. Wharton and his band have a new album out - Arc Of The Dawn. The days of hard rock are long gone, at least when you talk about Dare, but Darren Wharton wrote some beautiful rock songs with Irish / Celtic elements. Additionally Dare recorded a new version of King Of Spades off their debut Out Of Silence and 2 cover versions. Thin Lizzy's Emerald (Jailbreak / 1976) and Cheap Trick's The Flame (Lap Of Luxuary / 1988).



Musically the Irish offer some beautiful balladesque rockers like Shelter In The Storm and Kiss The Rain, the tracks have a melancholy note, but never push it too far. Sometimes it's the guitar which are like a spark of hope... Just enjoy the songs and let them enchant you. One of my favorites is Follow The River, it isn't completely different, but it has the special something... It's catchy, it will put you under a spell and you'll have to listen to it again and again... Their old track King Of Spades is now a balladesque rock tune, no longer a hard rock tune - but still great! Emerald always was a special song, this is a calm, emotional version. And The Flame sounds like a Dare song! The closer is Circles, another enchanting tune. At Circles Paris Wharton, Darren's son, is featured on guitar. Paris added the solo and shows his skills, hope we'll hear more from Paris!



It's not just the emotional guitar, it's also Darren Wharton's wonderful warm voice and his expressiveness. The perfect soundtrack to get lost in a reverie... Let Arc Of The Dawn carry you into daydreaming.

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Arc Of The Dawn

(Legend Records - 2009)



 
 

 

With their 20th anniversary Dare present a new album, it's been awhile... Six albums in 20 years isn't that much. At the new one they also more into melodic rock, the hard rock of the early days was pretty good, so... But they know how to play melodic rock. The songs at Arc Of The Dawn are atmospheric and should please their long-time fans who like it a bit heavier. The Irish and Celtic elements they weave into their sound are beautiful and make it more interesting. Listen to Dublin and Follow The River to get an idea. The sound of these songs is quite similar, but as all songs on a high level it doesn't have a negative effect. At Arc Of The Dawn you'll also find 2 cover versions - one is Thin Lizzy's Emerald which shines in it balladesque version and the other is the Cheap Trick tune The Flame. And even The Flame is more emotional then the original and as the whole album is full of calm, soft rock tunes the covers fit in very well. Arc Of The Dawn won't remind you of their early releases Out Of The Silence and Blood From Stone, but a very nice album which Dare fans who like the melancholy style of the band should dig. Darren Wharton and his mates deliver another fine piece of work which has the right sound to relax and it will carry you away. So just let your melancholy side take over for awhile!

 
 










Gisela Schmitz

(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Beneath The Shining Waters

(MTM - 2004)



 
 

 

Darren Wharton is back with another Dare album. As in the past Mr. Wharton combines rock with Celtic folk, after Out Of The Silence in 1988 he couldn't keep up the level with the following albums. Now he created a melancholy Celtic folk rock album. He first got known as the keyboarder of the legendary Thin Lizzy. There he also co-wrote some of their classics. The album starts with Sea Of Roses which gives a good idea about this album. Or listen to the title track. The calm, melancholy songs get the special something from Wharton's hypnotic voice. The songs Silent Hills and I'll Be The Wind seems to be inspired by the green hills of Ireland. Here and there rough like the Irish coast. Beautiful melancholic - but never depressive - songs which make you dream about the green hills and valleys and make you longing to go there...

 
 










Sandra Bucher
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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