TURN – Turn Back Time (2001) Rare

As requested, a rare and good album here. TURN was formed at the end of the Nineties around Stuttgart, South Germany, by bass player Pee Bonfert together with long-term friends Martin Kalus (vocals) and drummer Axek Winkler.

With guitarist Jacek Jan Zajac and keyboard player Markus Metzger (later in SUBWAY) aboard, the group began independently in the 2000s the recording of their debut album. Sessions were delayed by the vocalist illness, which was replaced by young singer Steffen Lauth. The band recorded 9 tracks, but being on a budget (self-financed) they decided to properly mix & master 5 tracks and put out an EP CD; “Turn Back Time“.
TURN plays a very enjoyable Melodic Rock / AOR blend, clean, smooth, melodic, influenced by classic major acts but with some modern touches.
“Change The Letters” opens with an acoustic intro but soon turns into a catchy uptempo melodic rocker with layered keyboards and very good, layered backing vocals. There’s real drums, but the additional programming adds a cool modern (yet not annoying) feel to the song. Swedes’ T’Bell come to mind here.
“Crazy Mama” is driven by more strong guitars and a fine electric piano line that reminds of Jonathan Cain / Journey. However the overall song-style recalls ’90s Alien or Hugo / Valentine.

Third song is musically the most complete. It’s a smooth, very European midpaced AOR tune in the Street Talk vein, with really good instrumentation and harmony vocals. Next we have the melodious ballad “Honesty”, filled with dreamy keyboards. Nice one.
Closing track “Living in Darkness” is another good modern midtempo melodic rocker, again with clever programming in the background and an ’80s atmosphere in the chorus.

“Turn Back Time” is one of the best indies from the beginning of the new Millennium, combining the ear-candy sound of ’80s Melodic Rock / AOR with modern programming which gives to the music an original twist.
Dann Huff (Giant) was interested to produce the guys, but when he was available in his busy schedule, the original singer got sick. A pity.
Anyway, TURN managed to obtain a remarkable sound out of these songs, produced & arranged by capable keyboard player Markus Metzger with the help of Bonfert.
Good Stuff, rare and hard to find CD.

 

1 – Change The Letters
2 – Crazy Mama
3 – Dream Dancer
4 – Honesty
5 – Living In Darkness

Markus Metzger: Keyboards, Programming
Steffen Lauth: Vocals
Jacek Jan Zajac: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Pee Bonfert: Bass, Backing Vocals
Axel Winkler: Drums, Backing Vocals
Ralpf Flinn: add. Backing Vocals & Acoustic Guitar

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