Mark Mangold, frontman for Touch and well known as the co-writer of the Michael Bolton hit `Fools Game’ and Cher’s `I Found Someone’, has just released a single from the new American Tears album, `Free Angel Express’.
The band which was reformed in 2018 features Alex Landenburg (Stratovarius, Kamelot, Rhapsody, Cyhra) on drums, with guest appearances by Barry Sparks (UFO, Dokken), Doug Howard (Touch, Utopia, Edgar Winter Band) and Charlie Calv (Angel, Shotgun Symphony).
The single `Woke’ launches with a powerful organ drone and a mighty haunting vocal before the drums slowly build and synths pulse out a funky beat and the vocals getting gritty and atmospheric patches make way for keyboard soloing that shows Mangold at his glorious best.
No guitar soloing to be found here, just wonderous prog synth magic. This is a lush canvas of soundscapes and thought-provoking lyrics from one of the world’s best keyboard masters.
Mangold still has what is takes to make a keyboard centred track rock with the best of them.
Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
