To be honest, I can’t remember what I was doing when I was 11 (it probably involved thinking I knew everything…. and football) but I’m damn certain it didn’t include being mentored by a rock musician, but then I’m not Cassidy Paris am I?
To explain, when she was 11 Cassidy, who hails from the land down under, met Paul Laine of Danger Danger and he took her under his wing.
Fast forward nine years, and the now 20-year-old Paris has her debut record out (Laine sings backing vocals) And never mind who the mentor is, the reason it’s being reviewed on this site is quite simple: it’s bloody good.
“Danger” is the proof. Classy, 80s-sounding AOR (if we’re still looking through a DD prism then think first album not second), and that sets the tone, in honesty for what is to come. “Rock N Roll Heart” repeats the dose adding a prime Bon Jovi (and by that I mean Richie Sambora one) solo, and while “Here I Am” alters the vibe a touch by moving it into arena-filling power ballad country, then that’s just fine.
It’s brilliantly done, this and sounds like a million (Australian) dollars, and the reason for that becomes a little clearer when you look at who’s playing the haunting piano line: Alessandro Del Vecchio. He’s the Frontiers Records producer of choice, and he’s worked his magic here for sure.
OK, you could say, maybe that you sort of know what the likes of “Walking On Fire” are going to do, but they execute the plan marvellously, and I’m never sure how much originality matters.
It’s clear that “New Sensation” is very much the record that Cassidy Paris and her team wanted to make. There’s no doubt she loves the sort of rock n roll that her parents doubtless grew up with, as “On The Bright Side” perhaps suggests.
Look, there’s a name that I’ve deliberately not mentioned yet, and it’s that of Lzzy Hale. But it can’t be avoided on “Song For The Broken Hearted” and Paris (I don’t think I’m going out on a limb too far here) is a fan.
The quality of this doesn’t dip either. The textures on “Searching For A Hero” betray an ambition for a career, not just this debut album, and it’s impressive too that given how rooted in the past this album could have been, it still sounds fresh. “Like I Never Loved You” is an anthem for now, not then, and however much I was hoping that “Stand” was a Poison cover; it’s not. It does, though have a monster of a hook.
Guitarists Dave Graham and Steve Janevski do a fine job throughout, and they give the likes of “Addicted” a heavier edge than they might have had.
Even as “Midnight Desire” goes full-on lust filled 80s parping keys and breathless vocals, then the feeling is that Cassidy Paris is the future. The album title might hint at the ambition, but the 40 minutes of music makes it clear.
Cassidy Paris is very much one to keep an eye on.
Rating 8/10
