The creative force behind I-Mind is Venezuela-born but Netherlands-based Eduardo J. Osorio. Area 51 is his debut album, and the 10 songs on offer are sung in English.
The general manner of the music is dance-influenced, pop-rock, with the odd hint at Osorio’s Latin American roots. 6 of the tracks follow a similar pattern of marrying dance-infused drumbeats, to almost funky bass-lines and electric guitar. The vocals are delivered in the fashion of a less husky Chris Rea, and are quite distinctive because of Osorio’s discernible accent. Imagine a sort of Santana-lite and you’re just about there. It’s not to this reviewer’s taste, but there is a market for this, as it’s quite accessible and harmless enough.
There are 4 tracks though, that do not follow this pattern. “Candy The Sinner” is the most rock-orientated song here, and has a strong guitar riff. “Solitary” is in the vein of “classic” rock and has a whiff of very late Pink Floyd about it. “Area 51” is the most surprising song as it is wandering in the vicinity of electronica/industrial pop. There are signs that Osorio can be quite inventive when he puts his mind to it.
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There is also an acoustic version of Tomorrow (a song seen elsewhere on the album) and to be honest this is the best song here. The stripped-down nature of the song fits the vocals and the simple lyrics.
Overall then, 6 tracks are middle of the road but are probably quite commercial, 3 show signs of experimentation, and one shows where for me, Osorio should be concentrating.
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