Richie Sambora + Orianthi (RSO) - Rise

More than three years that Richie Sambora, the ex-guitarist of Bon Jovi, and the Australian Orianthi (ex-six strings of Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper) are together in life and musically speaking. Suffice to say that there is talent, whether from the point of view of guitars, writing, voice. The duo released this EP made of five titles called Rise. I was expecting an album made of twelve or thirteen titles because I know they have dozens of titles of writing. I understand it's going to be released in a few months. This EP will no doubt serve as a test for fans and music professionals.

Rise (the song) is a pure rock'n'roll of the 60s / 70s, dry, nervous, based on huge guitars. The duet sings together and it is a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, idol of Sambora and Orianthi. It reminds of the 70s certainly but the production and sound are resolutely modern, there are guitars everywhere and the rhythm is transcendental. Wonderful introduction for that record.

Masterpiece will confuse more than one fan of Richie Sambora and Bon Jovi. It's not really rock. It's rather funky, slightly disco, rhythm'n'blues, it looks to the side of Rihanna and other Shakira. In fact I am completely snapped up, taped, so much the guitars, the piano, the rhythm, the keyboards stick me. It breathes the desire to live, to love, to laugh, to smile, the guitars are present, the short solo is very hard rock, metallic. A splendid song. Not rock certainly, whatever, but precisely this is the kind of title that helps modern rock to renew itself. I'm a fan. Just like I'm in love with Truth, the piano and the mixture of voices. It's modern, it moves forward music in general. The rhythm is also rhythm'n'blues, probably an addition of Orianthi. Richie Sambora no longer sings as before, certainly, but he sings with sincerity, love of art. The acoustic guitar in the middle of the piece is magnificent, the chorus will snatch you from the memories. For sure.

Click for listening to Masterpiece

Strange Take Me, very strange with its trumpets and its modern rhythm too, magnified by synthetic rhythms, present, yes but not too much. Another success. The acoustic solo is of a great beauty. Short because it puts itself at the service of the music, as a whole. Sambora is great at singing. I warn you this is not rock'n'roll at all here. But I adhere. I love the Spanish trumpet mixing with the guitar arrangements.

Good Times is a mid tempo, both country and rock, very jovial where the singing of the duet is perfect. Very nice rhythm, trumpets, brass, and of course guitars everywhere. The singing of Orianthi is impressive just. The song spoken on the end of Sambora sounds like today's sounds. Richie Sambora and Orianthi make all their influences speak here, and they have a lot. There is a bonus reggae of Good Times. Nice. The reggae-style guitars remind us of Led Zeppelin's D'yer Mak'er.

Honestly I expected five rock songs, yet another record where nothing changes. It is different, Orianthi and Richie Sambora dared to think and write different things, modern, rhythmic. I understand that some may hate, "but what has our Richie gotten into?" but I adhere, for I love people who dare to push the walls and break the barricades.

Five splendid titles that you can find on downloading on @spotify, @applemusic, and @amazon. Waiting forward the album and why not the concerts in France. Bravo Richie Sambora ! Bravo Orianthi ! RSO will live for a long time.

Click for listening to Rise