If you have spent time with this album, and consider yourself being a friend of Melodic Rock music, then deliverance wasn't any nearer before. Never before. Loud & Clear can easilly be considered as the eternal jewel of the genre; in any way, who cares what any reviewer can cry out for. History has been a triumphant judge for the one and only release by SIGNAL. Really glad a re-release is now available on CD, twenty years after the original gem was crafted.
Tons of reviews/presentations are available on both online (mainly) and printed (rare) Media regarding the deeds of Mark Free (known as Marcie Free the last years - sex change operation). Beyond and over any published timeline, I feel the urge to vote once again for this artist's shining neatness. Mark - apart from being a 'name' not receiving the recognition he no-doubt deserved (better that way, many can argue...) - presented a grand charisma of filling more than excellent the slot of the singer whenever required. Be it the mythical skinsman Carmine Appice-centered KING KOBRA in the mid-80s, the excessive UNRULY CHILD makings in the 90s or his/her monumental Long Way From Home (Mark, here) and ambitious Tormented (Marcie, there) albums, the sessions with SIGNAL, resulting in the one-and-only Loud & Clear CD/LP release in 1990 (yeap, a limited vinyl pressing took place in Europe, too, to feed the relative hunger of nostalgia fans), are the ones described as Mark's zenith in his whole career.
A deal with the EMI lebel could not be less than a good sign of trust for Mark Free, the SIGNAL camp featured maximum players like Danny Jacob, Erik Scott and Jan Uvena, the production was a task to be delivered by non other than Kevin Elson (famous for his works with EUROPE, JOURNEY, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, Mr. BIG and NIGHT RANGER) and what was now on question/hold could be nothing else apart from the obvious; the music itself. Well...
Loud & Clear is an album Loud-ly declaring its melodic Clear-ness. There's tons of desired melodies in there, flirting with both AOR and Rock music, a real epitome for what the specific world started referring to as Melodic Rock the last years. Mark Free sings so fine you'll not escape his sweet temptations, the instrumentation is simply immense, with nicely put riffs interacting with some superb keys, the rhythm section marches in familiar and essential tempos...all these destined to compile a grand set of tunes like...the whole album! Mark and Co. perfrom with envious consciousness for the songlist they've crafted, no wonder.
Don't know if the original issue of Loud & Clear is now a rare item or if it's again re-released the previous years. With this 2009 reissue, though, all things SIGNAL accomplished in one and only album are again at your disposal. Fans of Steve Perry, FOREIGNER, SURVIVOR, BAD ENGLISH, FM and BOULEVARD already have this gem, I guess. Probably in the Top-3 'Melodic Rock CDs' list. Sensational voice, astounding melodic music...what more?

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