Forever – Traces of Reality

Forever
Traces of Reality
1988 Promise Records
Paulsboro, New Jersey, USA

Daryll Bagby – Vocals, guitar
Art Hengst – Bass
Christian Miokiff – Synthesizer, keyboards
Gerry Stanford – Drums, percussion

Side 1:

1. Away
2. To Humanity
3. Still a Dream
4. Full-Time Private Eye
5. Joanna

Side 2:

1. Nothing Else Like Love
2. Foolish Dreams
3. Johnny’s Song
4. Lonely World
5. Survivor

This tape starts off with kind of peppy keyboard driven sound over acoustic guitars. It’s a rare combination that I haven’t heard much, but it gives you a distinct “happy youth group” feel, since it doesn’t really connect with any musical trends of the time other than “CCM.” The next two songs are also acoustic folky 60s throw back songs with keyboards kind of played over them, and you start to think you are listening to a Jesus Music throw-back band. But then “Full-Time Private Eye” comes in with all electronic drums, bass, and keyboards – trying to almost be new wave or synth pop maybe? Finally a better use of keyboards… and a little bit of electric guitar. What? “Joanna” starts off with some crunchy guitar, and turns into an 80s rock/AOR track. In fact, the band just mostly pivots to an 80s rock band with slight new wave leanings here and there. But would fans of that style last through the first three songs to make it to the rest? The acoustic guitars pop up a few more times to let you know the first three songs were no a mistake… just outliers I guess? Even the ballads on side 2 tame the keyboards enough to seem like AOR ballads.