Here’s the third release from the five-piece melodic rock group Airkraft originally based in Wausau and Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Written by: Dave T
ARTIST: Airkraft
ALBUM: Airkraft
LABEL: Premiere Records
SERIAL: P-6503
YEAR: 1989
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Dave Saindon – vocals, guitar * Mitch Viegut – guitar, backing vocals * Jon Douglas Dixon – keyboards, backing vocals * Peter Phippen – bass, backing vocals * Gyro – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Thief In The Night * 02 Footsteps * 03 Make Believe * 04 Rock City * 05 Midnight Confessions * 06 One Of A Kind * 07 Trapped In A Barrier * 08 Completely To You * 09 Giving Up On Love
RATING: 80/100
WEBLINK: Site Link
Airkraft Background
Here’s the third release from the five-piece melodic rock group Airkraft originally based in Wausau and Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Their first two albums, ‘Let’s Take Off’ and ‘Proximity’, were self-financed and locally released only.
The band raised their profile and developed a loyal following in the Midwest area through constant touring.
Mitch Viegut and Airkraft Internet sites both date the release as 1987. However, this is actually from 1989 according to the CD and vinyl labels.
The album was produced by Viegut and mixed by Glen Kolotkin (Jimi Hendrix, Santana).
The Songs
A strong, vintage 1970’s feel tinges the album, the Power Pop and Bubblegum influences are palpable. Yet this is AOR.
Dave Saindon has a voice perfectly suitable for glam metal. Somehow it’s similar in color to Michael Sweet, although not as powerful.
Random sliding guitar riffs surround the classy AOR of ‘Thief In The Night’.
‘Footsteps’ was the first single, composed by the writing partnership of Azhaar Saffar and Joe Cavanagh. Both later went on to co-lead Brazilian Jazz Fusion band Sirius B. It’s a chugging AOR number with chiming keys.
‘Make Believe’ is a re-recording off the ‘Proximity’ album with less piano and more of a power ballad aura here.
Meanwhile the rocking (excuse the pun) ‘Rock City’ has a Boston vibe to it.
Second single ‘Midnight Confessions’ is a cover of a Power Pop pioneers The Grass Rootstune. It’s turned into an AOR-meets-Bubblegum number with a pulsating riff that recalls Angel ‘Sinful’ era.
As dies ‘One Of A Kind’ with its bouncy basslines, vintage keys and ear candy vocal harmonies.
‘Trapped In A Barrier’ is Power Pop a la Cheap Trick with its keys and urgent melody.
‘Completely To You’ is written by Australian multi-award winning songwriter Brian Cadd. It features some sweet falsetto vocal tones.
And finally, ‘Giving Up On Love’ is an upbeat piece of dynamic Bubblegum melodies carved into swinging keyboard coats.
In Summary
This self-titled oozes class and fun. It’s arguably more so than 1990’s ‘In The Red’, which, on the other hand, has more immediate songs.
For me, this is the pick of the bunch for its dynamism and vitality. You might fall in love with the charmingly dated 1970’s and 1980’s Pop-oriented melodies.
Surprisingly, the album doesn’t get a mention almost anywhere else to date. Nor is it currently available on any of the major streaming sites.
Time for a proper reissue, methinks. Rock Candy, AOR Heaven (who have already reissued ‘In The Red’ in 2012 as part of their Classix series). Are you listening?
Airkraft on Video
Thief In The Night
Footsteps
Click to go to YTM album page.
