Issa - Crossfire (2015) Lossless

Rock queen ISSA returns with a brand new album 'Crossfire', and whilst her fourth album doesn't set out to change the world what it does do is bring you another fantastic slab of melodic rock which is becoming synonymous with ISSA and her wonderful twist on the AOR genre.

'Crossfire' see the Norwegian goddess team up with Vega producer John Greatwood and Vega keyboardist James Martin. The results are fantastic and each song sounds as good as anything she has released before, if not better. The album really is the connection between Romeo's Daughter and ‘80s Heart, hell you can even throw in some Robin Beck in there as well for good measure.

Featuring an almost who's who of modern AOR in the form of Daniel Palmqvist (Xorigin), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline), Steve Newman (Newman), Robert Sall (Work Of Art), Daniel Johansson (Degreed) and Stephen Chesney, as well as a powerhouse choir including Pete Newdeck (In Faith), Matt Black (Serpentine) and Michael Kew (Vega), you can see that this release is top draw quality.

The title track kicks off the album in great fashion. It is like a mashup of the aforementioned Romeo's Daughter with Vega. This is quickly followed by 'New Horizon' which again is perfectly crafted and played AOR, although the modern production adds a new flavour to what some may see as a tried and tested genre of music. For me the up to date elements really do make the record sparkle in all the right places.

As soon as I heard the lush piano intro to 'Raintown' I knew straight away that I was listening to a winner and then I heard THAT voice. When I say THAT voice, I am referring to the voice of pure liquid sex and love that is Steve Overland from the AOR gods FM. Seriously this guy could sing a Right Said Fred song and get me hard! Actually Right Said Fred get me hard anyway , so he could even sing a hospital appointment letter that says I'm booked in for a colonic and I'd still be smiling. This song is easily the main selling point of ‘Crossfire’ for me and it should be released ASAP as the single to break ISSA’s career into the mainstream. ISSA herself has said ''This was a dream come true for me, Steve Overland is probably my favourite male singer and to get him on board was a true honour, his voice suits the song perfectly, wait till you hear this one!!” Following up such a breathtaking song will always be a hard task but ISSA gives us 'Long Time Coming' next and it does a sterling job.

One thing this album has made me realise is that I really need to see this lady live. Just to be able to experience her and her music in the flesh would be something else. I can imagine these songs and her back catalogue sound fantastic live.

Another ballad, in the form of 'Fight Fire With Rain', gives us a chance to take a breather but still keeps the momentum going with a fantastic heartfelt chorus. 'Heartbeat’ meanwhile is another timeless classic that feels like a long lost friend only for you to realise that it is chest pumping, horns held up rocker. 'Electric Lights' comes blasting with a keyboards that A-Ha would be proud of. The lyric “Destiny calling, your four minute warning” reminds me of the Mark Owen song, but rest assured this is still classic AOR for the modern age.

The closing third of 'Crossfire' hits its stride with 'Ghost Inside My Heart', and “my God” this song is right up there with 'Raintown'. ISSA sings her heart out and it’s nearly as good as her duet with Mr Sex Voice but that is still a VERY high standard to reach. The writing partnership of the Martin brothers (James and Tom) is certainly one that I hope ISSA sticks with.

The best thing I can say about ‘Crossfire’ is that every song sounds like a hit single. I can easily say that there is no filler and that all the song here are killers, which in this day and age of the instant fix is a great unique selling point for an album to possess and something ISSA should be very proud of.