Sadly, there’s not a massive commercial format beating the bushes for delicate, layered pop songs, but that won’t stop Kyle Vincent, the former lead singer from teen heartthrob band Candy. Vincent has successfully “damned the torpedoes” for years, forging a successful solo career while also leveraging stints as Barry Manilow’s opening act and the lead singer for the Bay City Rollers. If you count them all, Where You Are is his tenth solo record, and if you’re familiar with Kyle’s gorgeous voice and chamber pop catalogue, your wallet is probably already out of your pocket.
Vincent’s love of 70s AM pop radio is evident in his arrangements; they’re lush but uncluttered, allowing his impeccable voice to land front and center. He’s also handy with a hook and immediately tapped into the Jellyfish fan within me with the leadoff track “It’s Gonna Be a Great Day”. But although the rest ofWhere You Are is filled with pretty mid-tempo songs about love, nature and human relationships, they do lock onto that same aural target and stay there.
Perhaps this is a perfect Sunday afternoon soundtrack for someone, a soft radio station playing a melodic Bread track followed by an pensive Eric Carmen ballad and an Air Supply hit…music to daydream with and think by. Nothing wrong with that. But while I also appreciate the craft and beauty, I do wish there were something as electric as his old hit “Wake Me Up (When the World’s Worth Waking Up For)” that would jump out of the speakers and demand my attention during the ride. Your mileage may vary, of course.
1. It’s Gonna Be a Great Day
2. In Another Life
3. The World Is Upside Down
4. Where You Are
5. Emily Standing
6. It’s a Lonely World
7. Satellite
8. Goin’ Down
9. Sakura Lullaby
10. On My Ride
11. Petals of Peace
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