Robert LaRoche – Sacred Vow
Folky & spirited elements are interspersed throughout this set, but also liberally dipped into a pop music presence. It actually works well with Robert’s prominent voice. The first 2 tracks are fairly rudimentary, but “Calling Me Back Home” has a mid-career Neil Diamond thrust (from the era of “Beautiful Noise”). I don’t mean Mr. LaRoche writes in a Brill Building way, but he does have a lock on catchy, mainstream, commercially sturdy songwriting with a rootsy soundscape.
Produced by John DeNicola (bass/Hammond organ/percussion/dulcimer/harmonium/electric guitar/clavioline/piano/Wurlitzer/Fender Rhodes/mellotron/cello/violin/dobro/bgv), the 10 songs that are Sacred Vow (Drops Sept 19/Omad Records/33:01) were recorded in Upstate New York. Robert (acoustic & electric guitars/piano/lead & bgv) goes rockier with “Mission Hill” & maintains the commercial bravado with an absorbing & driving theme. There are times he steps out of the early Neil Diamond propulsion (“Solitary Man”) & flexes a muscle-bound Kenny Loggins rock posture (“Somebody Knows”). Robert understands sonics because the songs have a thickness that keeps them from sounding too sweet & typical. His “sound” on many of these songs is well applied, aggressive & never mediocre.
Continuing with showcase cleverness, “Downward Slide” takes what’s elementary in rock music & Robert redesigns it into a lucid rocker that sticks to the mind if not the tapping toes & shaky legs. The sound on this LP has clarity. Robert’s voice is never raw, rough, or challenging. It’s not a rock middle-of-the-road type tone (Michael Bolton, Rick Astley) but operates with a sensitive, confident reserve. The slower tunes don’t work as effectively as his mid-tempo songs & more projected songs. That type of slow drama is a little too dry.
Excellence comes with “Bottle In Your Hand” that has heft & authority. Instead of pop, we have authentic, energetic Americana. The drive is manicured. Exciting stuff. My head is tingling. There’s a hint of Peter Himmelman, Marc Cohn & a pinch of Steve Earle gutsiness. All the songs are well played & have moments of charm (“Without a Trace”), but are basically what you’d expect from a skillful singer-songwriter. What’s most intriguing on this track is the acoustic guitar.
Mr. La Roche is a capable artist who knows how to build momentum & doesn’t rely on lyrically weak subject matter. “Long Way Down” is a heavy-duty melody with coherent guitar, vocal treatments & keeping it all savvy with the welded thud of drums. The LP closes with yet another well-defined tune (“Nighttime Falls”). Robert’s voice in a deeper tone is more suggestive as it floats between chunky guitar chords & melodic piano notes.
A likeable album that’s been assembled skillfully & well.
Highlights – “Calling Me Back Home,” “Mission Hill,” “Downward Slide,” “Bottle In Your Hand,” “Long Way Down,” & “Nighttime Falls.”
Musicians – Tommy Pluta (drums/bgv), John Leon (pedal steel guitar) & Harmen de Bresser (upright bass).
An 8pp stitched lyric insert is included. CD @ https://robertlarochemusic.com/ & https://www.omadrecords.com/store/robertlarochesacredvowcd