Album Review: Kirner & Montcorbier AOR Project – Ride The Open Sky

Rock Company – November 4^th, 2026

Reviewer – Jason Hopper

Stanislaw Kirner & Elian de Montcorbier are two songwriters with a passion for AOR and have assembled a group of musicians together to bring their songs to life. Having never heard their first album ‘The Promised Land‘, I’m coming into this with fresh ears. Boy, am I glad I decided to check it out. This album has some tremendous tracks that anyone who has a love for the genre will absolutely need to check out.

The opener is the title track. When reading the title and looking at the album cover, you may have some preconceived notions of what a song like that would sound like. Whatever notions you have, they are correct. Up there with the best uplifting songs from bands like Journey and Survivor, the song makes you feel like your car can go just a bit faster down the road as you open the windows to scream out the lyrics.

‘Highways In The Rain’ is the perfect follow up. A slightly slower melody that has a pulsing, infectious beat that does what the best AOR songs do, a slow build to a higher key and uplifting chorus. Lead singer Eton Kingsdale’s vocal approach is heartfelt and superb. The way he carries the note at the end of each chorus is fantastic. How have I never heard this man’s voice before?

If you think you know what you’ll be getting by the first few tracks, the band is not afraid to shake things up a bit. ‘Rolling Rolling Rolling’ adds a calypso flair with Caribbean percussions. It sounds like a song that would open a movie from the 90s before showing an overhead shot of an island.  Catchy stuff.

The first five tracks are right up my alley.  I dug all of the songs and was prepared to add this as a contender for my top albums of the year.  Then the second half of the album begins and things change considerably.  I will admit that I prefer the harder edge aspects of AOR.  I never got into a band like Toto, which incorporates more jazz melodies and horn instruments.  The second half of the album is dominated by these types of melodies.

There are a few tracks that I thought were as strong as the first half.  ‘Shadows of the Past’ and ‘Born In The South’ both have pop-tinged constructs that are not overtly complex, just straightforward pleasant melodies. I would have liked the album to continue on the path of the first half. I want to be clear that the other songs are not bad, they’re just not for me personally.  Toto fans will absolutely cherish these tracks.

Tracks 12 and 13 are CD exclusives, but only one of the songs would be something most people would want to own. ‘Eton’s Mess’ is certainly impressive with its jazz fusion lounge music stylings, but it’s an instrumental outlier that most will only check out once, unless you are into those types of instrumentals. It’s sure to be the least streamed song.

As the press release states: “No attempt to reinvent AOR. No need to”. It certainly covers the gamut of the genre and is incredibly well done. It just so happens that I’m not into overly jazz stylings and horns brought to the forefront. For me, loving eight out of thirteen tracks is a winner. If you love equal parts Journey, Toto, and Survivor, then do not hesitate to check this band out ASAP.  Years from now, this album is sure to be referenced by many as one of the best the genre has to offer.

Track List:

1. Ride The Open Sky
2. Highways In the Rain
3. When Life Is Smiling
4. Rolling Rolling Rolling
5. Summersky Blue
6. Better Times
7. Our Little Shack
8. Music Is The Healer
9. Shadows Of The Past
10. Rock The Heart
11. Born In The South
12. Eton’s Mess (Instrumental)
13. Love Does What It Can

Line-up:

Eton Kingsdale: Vocals
Warren Grey: Guitar & Backing
Saun Wallsberry: Sax
Robin Anderson: Bass guitar & Backing
Jimmy Ace: Drums & Backing
Jack Spacey: Keys & Backing