Off The Edge - Site Under Construction [2004]

The long-awaited follow-up to 2002's 'Unfinished Business' by Off The Edge is now available. This new CD is titled 'Site Under Construction', which is very appropriate, as Off The Edge is not really a gigging band and sell most of their CDs online through their own website (and mostly overseas to fans as far away as Germany and Japan).

Off The Edge celebrated their 20th anniversary last year and founder member Peter Hanmer brought original keyboardist Dave Sharp (also known for his work with 80's band Feather Control) back into the fold. Due to geographical differences, another founder and long-time member, bassist Tony Groenewald, was not able to be involved with this lastest project.

After 3 albums with a female-led rock sound, 'Site Under Construction' goes back to Off The Edge's roots by bringing in a male voice. And what a voice! Clint Cunningham comes from the '80's School of Rock {sorry, that term is now copyrighted - ed.} vocalists and has been likened to David Coverdale, but on the ballads he sounds more like Jackson Browne. Sherry Lee Jones from Peter Hanmer's 'Age Of Innocence' side-project provides beautiful backing vocals through-out.

The songs range in style from guitar and keyboard work-outs ('Everything Goes', featuring Sharp on an original Hammond C3 and alto sax) to rock ballads ('Rock Bottom' and 'Written In The Sand') and crunching rock sounds (The title track and 'Off The Edge', re-recorded here, after appearing on the first Off The Edge album in 1983).

Another constant factor with Off The Edge is their superb album covers created by Mark Raats and this one is no exception. The CD cover graphic art is really stunning and all the lyrics are included in the 6-page booklet.

Off The Edge fans (and there are lot of them) will love this album, and fans of well-produced Melodic Rock and Nu-Prog will find a lot to like here. Highly recommended.

Brian Currin
originally published 29th March 2004
on the Off The Edge website