The Official Off The Edge Website - Albums

Tracks:

Evil In Her Eyes
Liven Up The Night
The Critics
Just Another Band
One Lover
Off The Edge
Out Of Luck, Out Of Love
I Can't Carry On
Fooling Around

Bonus tracks on 1999 CD re-issue:
Shady Lady
Take It On The Run

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Musicians:

Peter Hanmer: Guitars
Tony Groenewald: Vocals, bass
Dave Sharp: keyboards
Ingrid Herbst: drums on 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7
Eric Liebermann: drums on 3, 5 & 8
Colin Heaney: drums on 9, 10 & 11
Jimmy Nicolas: Backing vocals on 2

Release information:

LP, December 1983, Blue Tree
CD, July 1999, OTE 2 1999

Reviews:

24 June 2000
Gabor Kleinbloesem, Editor of Strutter'zine

The South African AOR band OFF THE EDGE also sent me their debut that was originally released in 1984. This record has also been burned onto CD and I am really glad to have a copy of it right in front of me, because a lot of the songs on 'Off the edge' can be labelled as classy early 80s AOR/Melodic Pomprock. The production may not be that good as the band's other (recent) CDs, still it sounds ok and it's the music that counts after all. I would like to compare the album to the debut LPs of HYBRID ICE, AIRKRAFT, DAY ONE because sometimes OFF THE EDGE is very similar in approach on their debut. Although the two recent CDs feature Judy on lead vocals, this debut album of OFF THE EDGE features the lead vocals of bassist Tony Groenewald, who has a pretty good voice actually. Also notable are also the lovely AOR keyboards of keyboardplayer Dave Sharp (who is not in the band anymore) that make the AOR of OFF THE EDGE on this record sound very 1983/1984 American Rock orientated. There are 11 songs on the record. The album opens up with 'Evil in her eyes', a great uptempo early 80s AOR rocker, the song has been re-recorded by the band on their second CD 'On the run'. Next track 'Liven up the night' is a bit weak rocker, but 'The critics' is a very nice uptempo AOR rocker again. The very good semi AOR rocker 'Just another band' follows. Then comes the superb classic early 80s Pompous AOR ballad 'One lover' that has a very strong hard-hitting AOR chorus. This wonderful song is totally in the style of HYBRID ICE, AIRKRAFT, LE ROUX, DAY ONE, PASSENGER. The following two songs are a little weaker. First there is 'Off the edge', a nice late 70s typed rocker (a la REO/HEAD EAST). This song is followed by 'Out of luck, out of love', a poppy 80s affair with many keyboards (a la LEYDEN ZAR). We're back into early 80s AOR with 'I can't carry on', a fantastic straight ahead uptempo early 80s Melodic AOR/Poprocker a la TORONTO, MAYDAY, 707. The instrumental 'Fooling around' follows, a nice 70s typed tune that sounds like a mix between the calmer (and poppy) sounds of I-TEN and 70s JOURNEY. Some nice uptempo melodic pomprock can be heard in 'Shady lady', a song that sounds like a mix between the first AIRKRAFT and RATHSKELLER. Closing track 'Take it on the run' is a nice relaxing AOR ballad, not very heavy, but some great keys and a sound like PREVIEW. This debut album of OFF THE EDGE has some really great moments, and I dare everyone who likes that good old early 80s AOR/Pomprocksound of mentioned bands to check out this release.

Points: 8.0 out of 10

Sunday Times
Chris Prior, January 1984

I'm pleasantly surprised to find this sort of music even being released by a local company.

Basically, it's straight down the line rock – no punk, no new wave, no cross-over and especially no disco. It's guitars, keyboards, bass, drums and vocals – and it's got a pretty sharp edge.

Guitarist Peter Hanmer and bassist/vocalist Tony Groenewald are the main men behind this band; they formed it and do all the writing – and they probably did all the hassling to get themselves on to vinyl.

Their keyboardist, Dave Sharp, is in fact the official keyboardist with the Mattisson brothers, so one wonders just how permanent that arrangement is. Drumming duties are shared by three people, so clearly Off the Edge still have to iron out a few details and decide exactly where they want to go.

For all this, their debut album is an amazing effort – polished, professional and definitely promising. To have achieved this quality on a first outing demonstrates considerable talent. There's no reason why that talent shouldn't prosper and grow.

SA Rock Digest Issue #51
Kurt Shoemaker, Texas, April 2000

It doesn't happen too often but once in a while I make a prediction that comes true. When I was a kid in the late 60s I was into rock, of course, and thought the scene was incredibly creative -- which it was. Yet, I used to tell friends that while some of the best rock music was being made in the 60s, when these musicians matured and improved rock music would be even better.
David Marks recently wrote in the Digest about musicians improving, saying something to the effect: "More mature (I didn't say older) musicians". He echoed my thoughts in that as musicians improve and mature (I didn't say older, either), their work will improve, and we, the listeners benefit.
The first Off the Edge CD, and the later work of Peter Hanmer, Tony Groenewald, and others, proves this fact of maturity equalling better music. Off the Edge by Off the Edge is a fine CD, On the Run by Off the Edge is a better album, at least in the sense that it feels unified, and I'm hoping that the soon-to-be-released Off the Edge album will be even better yet.

Here are some brief thoughts on the songs of Off the Edge's first album:
"Evil In Her Eyes" -- nice power chord open, a rockin' and rollickin' tune.
"Liven Up the Night" -- The guitar playing continues to be inventive, the drums and keyboards rock-steady.
"The Critics" -- Take that! Determination, a vow in a song about keeping keeping on. Again, there's that wonderful guitar playing.
"Just Another Band" -- The obligatory slow song per set. Melancholy, almost wistful vocals, but a long build to power, then resumption of the easygoing beat and calm vocals.
"One Lover" -- Calm interludes punctuated by energetic and enthusiastic playing and singing to get across the sincerity and urgency of the wish for one lover.
"Off the Edge" -- back to rock, is this the break song in a live set? Mid to uptempo, good rock song with a guitar break that fits and flows with the song. Ends with a nice and lengthy keyboard and guitar interplay.
"Out of Luck, Out of Love" -- Funky, strutting, and proud tune in contrast to the lyrics. The short guitar break makes me think, "Hey, is this guy good or what?"
"I Can't Carry On" -- Straight ahead rock tune. The instruments border on wild but are kept under control -- good balance.
"Fooling Around" -- The first times I listened to this CD, whenever this tune came on I reached for the case to see the title. Brian has mentioned this tune, too, and I agree that it is a stand-out rock instrumental that skips along wonderfully; entirely pleasant.
"Shady Lady" -- After the lengthy intro, the beat picks up and the song gets going. Nice song, but sounding perhaps more of the day it was written than others of this CD.
"Take It On the Run" -- This is one of the four songs recorded for the On the Run CD, and one of my favorite songs of either CD. A nice thoughtful coda, and one which suggests the flow, unity, and style that will emerge in the more mature work of On the Run.
To tie this all in with my thought that as musicians mature their music improves, the first CD is eleven songs that range from nice and pleasant to wonderful rock songs, while the second CD has a stylistic unity that makes the entire CD one fine work, without being repetitious. While the first CD is one I'm very glad to own, the second is one of my favorite rock works. The third album? I'm waiting for it eagerly, because I am sure the progression from Off the Edge's first album through the third is going to be ever upward and onward.

Albums:

Official releases:

Off The Edge (December 1983)
On The Run (March 1999)
Just Another Band (June 2000)
Unfinished Business (June 2002)
Site Under Construction (March 2004)

Limited Edition releases: