Paris - 'Only One Life' Album Review

The Melodic Rock outfit PARIS has its origins in the French capital, but a short look at the album credits of the band's debut record illustrates that we are actually dealing with an international affair. The two main characters, Frédéric Dechavanne and Sébastien Montet, hail from France, the duo is responsible for the songwriting, the lead vocals, the guitars and the keyboards. The Italian delegation is represented by producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (Lionville, Hardline, Issa – this bloke is everywhere in modern AOR), the rhythm section Anna Portalupi (Mitch Malloy, Lionville, Hardline) on bass and Alessandro Mori (Mitch Malloy, Lionville, Axe) on drums. Guests are in-demand Swedish songwriter Robert Säll (Work Of Art, W.E.T.) on guitar and Steve Newman (Newman, Big Life) from the United Kingdom on backing vocals.

 Frédéric and Sébastien met in the suburbs of Paris when they were still little kids, later  in High School they discovered their common interest in AOR, Melodic Rock and Hard  Rock. In 1985 they founded their first band together and started to write their own songs inspired by the multi-platinum albums and concert visits of some of the most successful acts of the genre during their heyday in the late 80s, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi. The guys continue to work on their own material during the next couple of years, but life had other plans for the two friends, so from 1993 on their band and song writing activities were put on hold for almost two decades. 

In 2010 the two friends, who always kept in touch through the years, rediscovered the joy of making music together. New technologies paved the way for their revitalized musical collaboration with Frédéric now living in Germany, and they eventually recorded a demo album with 11 newly songs in 2011.

Ready then to take the next step, they contacted Alessandro Del Vecchio. The internationally renowned producer and musician took them under his wings and produced the songs in his studio, including some old favorites Frédéric and Sébastien had written 20 years ago. The PARIS debut "Only One Life" was recorded with the help of an international line-up of studio musicians, resulting in a collection of truly catchy Melodic Rock tunes.

The first couple of tracks, ‘Dancing On The Edge’, and ‘What We Should Be Saying’, have a definite AOR/Westcoast feel and fall into the modern type Slama AOR project, and Work Of Art. Considering these songs are the best part of 20 years old, they make an instant mark on your senses. Of course it wouldn’t be a melodic rock album without a ballad or two with the decent ‘Every Time You Walk Away’, and the more standard fare of ‘For The Time Still To Come’. Highlights include the aforementioned songs and the excellent ‘America’, ‘South Of Love’, ‘The Clock’, and ‘Handle With Care’

 Whilst its nowt new, any self respecting hardcore fan of AOR can enjoy a little trip over to Paris and enjoy ‘Only One Life’

80/100

Tracklisting -

Dancing On The Edge
What We Should Be Saying
South Of Love
Every Time You walk Away
America
Longer Than I Care To Remember
The Clock
On Fire
When The Lights Fade Away
Handle With Care
For The Time Still To Come

All songs written by Frédéric Dechavanne
except "America and "South of Love" written by Frédéric Dechavanne & Sébastien Montet

Produced by Alessandro Del Vecchio
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Alessandro Del Vecchio at Ivorytears Music Works, Italy

Arranged by Frédéric Dechavanne, Sébastien Montet & Alessandro Del Vecchio

 

PARIS are :
Frédéric Dechavanne: Lead & backing vocals, keyboards
Sébastien Montet: Lead & rhythm guitars

Additional musicians:
Anna Portalupi: Bass
Alessandro Mori: Drums
Alessandro Del Vecchio: Backing vocals
Steve Newman: Backing vocals
Robert Säll: Lead guitars on "America"