Another Canadian in Keven Jordan arrives from out of nowhere, and releases a magical AOR album which generated a great deal of interest in the AOR community back in 1991. Very much a soft rock classic.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Keven Jordan
ALBUM: No Sign Of Rain
LABEL: CBS Canada
SERIAL: CK 80163
YEAR: 1991
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
LINEUP: Keven Jordan – vocals; guitars * Marty Walsh – guitars * Peter Cardinali – bass * Tim McAuley – keyboards and drum programming * Scott Humphrey – drum programming * Matthew McAuley – background vocals, keyboards
TRACK LISTING: 01 There Is A Reason * 02 No Sign Of Rain * 03 I Look To You * 04 Just Another Day * 05 True Believers * 06 Your Disguise * 07 She Lives * 08 Traces Of You * 09 How Can We Believe? * 10 The Path That Leads To You
WEBLINKS: NA
Background
Another Canadian in Keven Jordan arrives from out of nowhere, and releases a magical AOR album which generated a great deal of interest in the AOR community back in 1991. Very much a soft rock classic, in the vein of Stan Meissner and Marc Jordan, it is extremely infectious and playable over and over again.
Keven has hauled in some very talented people: namely guitarist Marty Walsh (from Laura Branigan, and more recently with Supertramp and MTM act The Key), bassist Peter Cardinali from Stan Meissner and Simon Chase, and Tim Mc Auley, who produced and played most of the other instruments on the album. Indeed the production is lush and atmospheric in some places and pushes this album up to another sonic level.
The Songs
Though the album is softer, it is still full of hi-tech musicianship, and the drum programming works a treat on some of the songs. Things get underway with the pulse laden ‘There Is A Reason’. The title track ‘No Sign Of Rain’ sounds as if it could be on a movie soundtrack, a very moody and brooding song.
Meanwhile ‘I Look To You’ simply melts with melodic intent. We fire up a bit with ‘Just Another Day’ and the album’s highlight the awesome ‘She Lives’. Some gentler moments include ‘Traces Of You’, and the exceptional ballad ‘The Path That Lead To You’, while the hi-tech approach is exemplified on the track ‘How Can We Believe?’.
I could sit here and try and describe the tracks in detail but you really need to listen to it yourself as it has a different impact on different people, but one things for certain, it makes for very good listening. As a result, Keven won a Canadian Juno Award in 1991 as best newcomer.
In Summary
He did release a followup self titled album three years later, which saw him move more in the Bruce Hornsby direction. Since then Keven has opted out of the music industry though one day we may see him put his creative talents together to release another gem like this.
Keven Jordan on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
