DREAM, AFTER DREAM (OST)

An album that most Journey fans are not even aware of its existence, this a hard to find CD with the soundtrack of an obscure Japanese film Yume, Yume, No Ato. It was released in 1980. just before the band reached their mega hit status with Escape. In fact this is the last album by the group featuring original member Gregg Rollie. And the music in here has very few similarities from anything they have done, before or since. There are just three songs with vocals: Destiny, Sandcastles and Little Girl. Those are the ones you´ll find more familiar due to the very unique voice of Steve Perry, but even then, they are way different, featuring a more relaxing, laid back feel, with long instrumental breaks, lots of orchestration and even elements of world and japanese music thrown in for good measure. A "real" soundtrack album that seems to be made specially to please their enormous fan base in Japan.

There are few really remarkable parts, most of then featuring Neil Schons beautiful guitar lines and solos, backed by Rollies Fender Rhodes electric piano, with a definitely jazzy feel (even a sax solo is present on Sandcastles). It clearly shows the band could deliver much more than "just" the hard rock/fusion of their early stuff or the AOR/pop of the late 70s onward. Although I do not find it particularly appealing to me, it is nevertheless proof that they were better musicians and songwriters than most people think. And one can only wonder where would they have gone if they decided to take such departure further. Anyway, the album is still a valid statement of Jorneys versatility and talent. And if you like the band (and soundtracks), you should listen to Dream After Dream just to realise how different they could be without losing any of the melodic ear nor their skill in delivering great tunes.

An interesting surprise!