Hartmann – ‘Get Over It’

(Pride and Joy Music)

It’s been a while since Hartmann’s last all new material solo album so ‘Get Over It’ is a welcome release from a great German vocalist. There’s a tone to Hartmann’s voice that has always appealed to me and I’ve always thought his tone elevates the material he sings giving songs greater impact than a weaker singer might do. That Blues fuelled voice always gives his brand of Melodic Rock an identity less common in the genre a bit like Steve Overland therefore helping his albums make a deeper impression within the genre.

‘Get Over It’ is very much a Melodic Rock album but not a straight ahead one, it has obvious blues tones and Country style instrumentation in the mix. This mix gives the album I strong Americana feel in fact if I didn’t know better, you’d think this was an American album.

The Blues flavour adds a sense of melancholy throughout the album, but not in a depressing or negative way its more in a bittersweet way, beautiful yet sad at the same time. Vocally Hartmann is on top form and this collection of songs is very impressive making for a solid release which should please and excite melodic rockers.

There’s a good mix of styles with blues-tinged melodic rockers, swaggering choruses and emotive ballads giving the album a sense of variety. ‘One Step Behind’ has an urgent vibe and has a memorable chorus which makes it a highlight and is currently one of my most played tracks from the album. The ballad ‘Can’t Keep Away From You’ is a strong contender the best ballad I’ve heard this year. It’s emotional and touching, beautiful with a melancholic edge and has a killer chorus that will haunt you. The atmospheric ‘Just Drive’ will definitely have its fans with its melancholic guitars and atmospherics which makes the song stick with you.

Hartmann’s solo offerings have been consistently strong and enjoyable but with ‘Get Over It’ I think it pushes it up an extra notch with the songs been of an even stronger quality. Sometimes fresh music can create a false sense of superiority on initial listening but I do genuinely feel this is probably one of his overall strongest solo albums so far. If you like Melodic Rock with a blues tinge you won’t go wrong checking out ‘Get Over It’ which I’m confident will be praised by most melodic rockers.

9/10

Essential Track - 'One Step Behind'

Review by Woody