Haven: Press

Haven is fronted by lead vocalist Pamme - quite a revelation indeed! She has quite a presence on this material and as a vocalist in general is one of the best female leads I have heard in a long time. She has that touch that turns a straight ahead rock song into a more gut wrenching emotional experience and I shudder to think how much better she will become!
Haven recorded and released this album independently and a copy made it to the desk of Now & Then Productions chief Mark Ashton. He also saw the potential in these guys and signed them up, with this debut release now featuring new artwork and packaging, but the same song line up as the indie release. What I expect Mark will do gives me great cause for excitement.
This is one of the best female fronted AOR albums in a very long time. As good as this album is for fans of sultry female vocal lead melodic rock, under the guidance of Now &Then they are bound to get even better. Scary fact that!

Haven is Pamme, Michael Brody (Bass, Guitars) and John Vanselow (Guitars). Joining them on the album is melodic rock heavy weights Matt Sorum (drums) and Robin McAuley (backing vocals).
The band plays a mix of mid tempo rockers with sultry heartbreaking ballads. The vocal power of Pamme is something to get AOR fans excited. The sound of the band and of Pamme herself most closely resembles fellow melodic AOR rockers Fiona and Robin Beck - with even more guts and raw emotion! Comparisons can also be made to Heart - especially with the musical direction and vocally also to the very cool Carol Decker of T’Pau. Any music fan with albums from these ladies in their collection needs to add Haven. I doubt you will be disappointed. The harmonies and backing vocals and song arrangements keep the listener interested and entertained throughout. I rate these guys above Dante Fox and Robin Beck.
There is a little room for further improvement in the production quality, but that will come with an expanded production budget. The delivery and passion of the songs far out weights any minor point there.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a great album of emotion filled rock, with a great new discovery leading the way on vocals. The album has a varied pace - from melodic rockers to sultry pop to powerful emotion filled power ballads - all with a very AOR twist. For fans of female fronted melodic rock, there is a new Queen in town.
SONGS: 93% VIBE: 85% ATTITUDE: 90%
ESSENTIAL FOR: All fans of powerful, female fronted AOR tinged melodic rock. Fans of Fiona, T’Pau & Robin Beck.



MELODICROCK.COM REVIEW

Haven – The Road
Now & Then/Frontiers Records



The American band Haven is that rarity in the AOR/Melodic rock medium being a female fronted rock band. The group is built around the core nucleus of the vivacious Pamme on vocals, Michael Brody on bass/keyboards and John Vanselow on guitars with various guest musicians brought in to fill out the sound. Notably some of these have worked with high quality musicians with Matt Sorum (The Cult and Guns’n’Roses) on drums, Steve Klong on drums, Robin McAuley (MSG) on backing vocals and Jimmy Hotz (Yes, Fleetwood Mac) on keyboards. Obviously, featuring a female singer will always bring comparisons with the immaculate Heart and for sure there are some elements there but Haven have a harder edge to their sound. John Vanselow is an excellent guitarist and he provides many thrilling moments but Pamme really steals the show with her powerful and emotion filled vocals. Her range is tremendous and she beautifully handles the full-blooded rockers and the enthralling ballad with equal aplomb. Try to imagine a cross between Elkie Brookes, Tracy Hitchings and the wonderful Dalbello and you will have some idea of her range. The opener The Curtain sets the scene as Pamme injects life into the lyrics and literally takes your breath away with her power and range. The high standard is maintained throughout with Can You Hear Us, Forgiveness and The Road encapsulating the very essence of the band. Buy and enjoy!

Terry Craven
Wondrous Stories Magazine

For further info check out the website at www.haventheband.com

MUSIC AND THE CITY

In the Spotlight...


 
The year is 2001.  The place is California.  That angelic, yet tough, voice
you hear in your head finally has a name.  Her name is “Pamme”.  Ain’t that just like a woman making even the
simplest things confusing.  The music she plays is the one thing you can’t
escape from.  She’s searching just like you.


MUSIC AND THE CITY Brings to You...
HAVEN

“The Curtain Falls”, with it’s minor key drone, opens the drama.  “Can You
Hear Us” is where that whole angel thing comes in.  This girl’s got a voice
that just wraps around you and hangs on tight.  “All I Ever Need” breathes
some life into you.  “Halfway Home” is a surprisingly folk sounding ballad,
but the next track, “Strange Premonition” knocks you off your chair. 
Guitarists Michael Brody and John Vanselow, along with drummer Matt
Sorum, of Guns n Roses fame, make their presence known on this one.  Another big piano ballad in “Face the Day” leads into the larger than life, “Show Them”. 
Yet another lovely ballad with “The Road”.  My personal favorite is next.  It’s
the song, “Hold On”.  Although there are many other songs with this title, this
one stands out.  If you don’t believe me, check out mp3.com/haven and hear
for yourself!  One last dramatic ballad with “Someday Soon”.  Then for a moment you feel as though you’re in a teen movie with the perfect pop-rock sounds of “Be the One”.  Although this is a little out of place, it’s without a doubt a highlight of the album, which ends with the rocker, “Forgiveness”.