Progressive Metal Reviews

Ballad Collection
LANA LANE

You shouldn't be scared away by the fact that this is a ballad collection. Usually those kinds of albums get very boring, but not this one. This is not just one of those power ballads albums that is put out with the purpose to attract people, who usually not listening to hard rock.

This isn't power ballads in the sense were used to. They're just wonderful and calm symphonic rock songs from Lana's three studio albums "Love Is an Illusion", "Curious Goods" and "Garden of the Moon"; some Rocket Scientists songs and some re-recorded tracks. There are also 3 cover songs; with The Beatles "Across the Universe" being the best. With these beautiful songs and the fact that 7 out of 10 tracks contain Mellotron, it's hard to resist this album. The best tracks are "Stardust", "Through the Fire" and "Across the Universe".

As usual the splendid musicians from Rocket Scientists are backing up Lana Lane together with some other great musicians.

The Polish artist Jacek Yerka once again made the cover art, and this time it is called "Bishop of the Sargasso Sea". This is a good album if you've never heard Lana Lane before, and it is also a good complement to every old Lana Lane fans collection, as there are some new things for you to explore.

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-

Queen of the Ocean
LANA LANE

Musicians:
Lana Lane - vocals
Neil Citron - guitars
Mark McCrite - bass
Erik Norlander - keyboards
Tommy Amato - drums

Standard CD Tracks:
1. In the Hall of the Ocean Queen
2. Night Falls
3. Queen of the Ocean
4. Let Heaven In
5. Frankenstein Unbound
6. Souls of the Mermaids
7. Rainbow's End
8. Without You
Japanese Version bonus track:
9. Season's End
European Version bonus tracks:
9. Through the Rain
10. Escher's Staircase (live)
10. Symphony of Angels (live)
The opening track is 'In The Hall Of The Ocean Queen', which starts of with the sound of the ocean, this is then followed by some atmospheric sounds and then some nice bass before a fanfare of keyboards comes in building up to a crescendo. This then fades away to the sound of the ocean and in comes...

'Night Falls', this track starts off with some nice keyboards before a heavy, but yet melodic guitar comes in, after awhile this mellows out and Lana's wonderful vocals come in. This track has a wonderful melody and a catchy chorus. It also features some superb guitar and keyboards.

The third track is 'Queen Of The Ocean', and starts off with some beautiful sounding keyboards and atmospheric guitar. This track is more in the Blues vein and once again Lana's vocals are just superb. The music is fairly mellow at first, but gradually builds up. there's a nice combination between acoustic and electric guitar and there's also a superb guitar solo.

The next track 'Let Heaven In', starts with acoustic guitar with some superb electric guitar over the top. the music quietens down a little when Lana's vocals come in. Very catchy melody and chorus. Reminds me a little of Heart.

'Frankenstein Unbound', this track has a great drivin' rhythm and there's a hint of Deep Purple here to me. There's also a superb Emersonesque type keyboards solo, which is followed by some superb guitar. Then it's back for more wonderful keys and then more guitar.

The sixth track is 'Souls Of The Mermaids' and starts off with an orchestral sound, after q short while the guitars come in quite heavy, but with a nice mleodic quality, just before the vocals come in the music quietens down and there's some nice intricate guitar work, bongo drums and nice mellow keys. During the chorus the tempo is raised and the music gets quite lively.

The next track is 'Rainbow's End', a lively uptempo rock composition with some great guitar and outstanding keys. Once again, as on numerous previous tracks there's quite a catchy melody and chorus. Towards the end there are two excellent guitar solo's.

'Without You', starts of with some nice intricate guitar with some great lead coming in over the top. Overall, this is a fairly mellow track and once agin, the guitar, keyboards and vocals are excellent.

The first of three bonus tracks is 'Through The Rain', and starts as the title suggests with the sound of rain and thunder, but soon after the band come in, this is another fairly lively track with a catchy melody and chorus. This track also features some superb guitar work and towards the end there's a fine keyboard solo.

'Escher's Staircase' this track wqas recorded live in japan and is another melodic rock composition with a very catchy chorus. Once again, you just cannot fault the excellent musicianship. The final track 'Symphony Of Angels' is another track that has been recorded live in Japan. Heavy guitars, nice keyboards and great lead over the top. Quietens down for the vocals and it's a nice combination melodic keys playing and heavy guitar playing in the background. There's also an excellent guitar solo which is followed by some superb keyboards, which shortly after guitars are added but it's still the keyboards which are dominant. A while later the excellent vocals from Lana are back to another superb composition.

One thing is quite clear when you listen to this album, the musicianship is just superb and Lana is probably the best female rock singer of this decade, her voice beside being crystal clear, is full of passion, emotion and can be quite powerful when the music warrants it. All of the tracks on this album have strong melodies and after you have listened to them a few times you will be singing along at your hearts content.
Great stuff!!!

Released in Europe by SPV
Distibuted by SPV GmbH, P.O. Box 72 1147, 30531 Hannover, Germany
Website : http://www.spv.de
Also obtainable
Limb Music Products & Publishing
Postfach 60 25 20
22235 Hamburg, Germany
Fax: +49 - (0)40 - 53 10 90 50
from Limb Music Publishers : http://www.limb-music.de

Live In Japan
LANA LANE

Garden of the Moon
LANA LANE

Musicians:
Lana Lane - Vocals
Erik Norlander - Keyboards
Mark McCrite - Guitar
Neil Citron - Guitar
Danelle Kern - Guitar
Don Schiff - Chapman Stick
Tommy Amato - Drums

Playlist:
1. River of the Stars
2. Destination Roswell
3. Seasons
4. Moongarden
5. Evolution Revolution
6. Under the Olive Tree
7. Eternal Waters
8. Dream of the Dragonfly
9. Garden of the Moon
10. Symphony of Angels (live with Rocket Scientists)*

* Bonus track on Japanese import version only

This is the third album from Lana Lane, and it's a superb mix between AOR, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, pop and melodic symphonic progressive rock. You can hear reminiscences to Lee Aaron, Lita Ford, Heart, Pat Benatar and Saraya. Her vocal performance is very good. She has a very clear and at the same time aggressive and powerful rock voice. Lane's influences combine 70's Hard Rock with Jazz and big band singers.

It's hard to not be swept away by the beautiful music from Lana Lane. It makes you feel warm inside. There are three guitarists on this album. The guitarist Neil Citron is a perfect rock guitarist and a virtuous on his instrument. The members in the band contain the main part of the progressive rock band Rocket Scientists. Almost every track on this album is brilliant. The strength lies in the strong and memorable melodies. It's a mystery that Lana Lane isn't known to a wider audience, because this is a powerful and highly recommended album.

One of Lana Lane's trademarks is the beautiful album covers that is painted by the Polish artist Jacek Yerka. This time it is a painting called "Paradise", and that is where I believe I'm taken away to when I listen to this album.

ANGULAR
SKAN 8212.AR
SPV 085-10042 CD

More information about Lana Lane can be found on: http://www.thetank.com

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-

Lana Lane:
Lana Lane - lead and harmony vocals
Erik Norlander - Hammond organ, Mellotron, Piano, Rhodes, Minimoog, Oberheim & Roland synthesizers, Percussion
Guest Musicians:
Arjen Anthony Lucassen - lead guitars, rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitar and Mellotron on "Tarot"
David Victor - lead guitars, harmony guitars, clean rhythm guitars on "Astrology Prelude" & "Astrology Postlude"
Tony Franklin - fretless bass, acoustic guitars, harmony vocals, percussion
Ed Warby - drums
With
Cameron Stone (cello) - Novi Novog (viola, solo on "Asherah") -
Istvan Szeker (violin) - Mark McCrite (acoustic guitars and Mellotron
on "Guardian Angel") - Robert Soeterboek (harmony vocals)

Tracklist:
1. Astrology Prelude (3:59)
2. Secrets of Astrology (8:33)
3. Alexandria (5:16)
4. Raining (6:17)
5. The Bell (5:16)
6. Speed of Sound (5:24)
7. Under the Sun (4:43)
8. Tarot (4:47)
9. Asherah (6:52)
10. Guardian Angel (6:41)
11. Long Winter Dreams (5:51)
12. Astrology Postlude (3:31)
Bonus Track:
13. Rhapsody (5:25)

It is two years since I first heard "The Queen of Symphonic Rock": Lana Lane. It was her "Garden Of The Moon" album that was released in 1998. I instantly became a fan, and by now I have heard almost everything from her ten releases, including this. It is with great pleasure I can announce that this album is as good as always and that there are plenty of highlights and future classics on it.

As always she has the keyboard wizard Erik Norlander by her side. This man is absolutely fabulous when it comes to playing keyboard, but most of all the choice of keyboards, for example: Hammond Organ, Mellotron, Rhodes and Minimoog. His tasteful keyboard inputs is one of the cornerstones in Lana Lane's Majestic Symphonic Rock that is
mixed with AOR and Progressive Rock/Metal.

Erik is also the producer and co-writer so he has a big role here. One of the guest musicians on this album is Arjen Anthony Lucassen who is playing guitar on a big part of the album, but also Mellotron on one track. I guess that
you have heard of Arjen's own band Ayreon.

This album has everything you could wish for: strong vocal performance by Lana Lane (she has one of the better female voices I've ever heard), magnificent compositions with strong melodies and lots of Mellotron now and then. Don't hesitate, buy it now!

Released in Europe by SPV
Distibuted by SPV GmbH, P.O. Box 72 1147, 30531 Hannover, Germany
Website : http://www.spv.de
Also obtainable
Limb Music Products & Publishing
Postfach 60 25 20
22235 Hamburg, Germany
Fax: +49 - (0)40 - 53 10 90 50
from Limb Music Publishers : http://www.limb-music.de

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-

Musicians:
Lana Lane: Lead and background vocals
Neil Citron: Lead and rhythm guitars, background vocals
Mark McCrite: Acoustic guitars, electric rhythm guitars, background vocals
Tommy Amato: Drums and percussion
Tony Franklin: Fretless Bass
Erik Norlander: Mellotron, Hammond organ, Rhodes piano, Minimoog, Yamaha & Alesis synthesizers, background vocals

With
Don Schiff: NS/Stick on "Without You", Chapman Stick on "Through the Fire"
Tully Winfield: Background vocals on "Without you" and "Through the Fire"
Danny Lorenze: Drums on "Through the Fire"

Track list:
1. Rhapsody (5:26)
2. Escher's Staircase "1999 Remix" (6:06)
3. Frankenstein Unbound "Long Echoes Version" (8:36)
4. Without You "Early Version" (7:51)
5. Through the Fire "1995 Version" (5:08)

This CD EP is a complement to Lana Lane's 1999 release "Queen of the Ocean". Just as the 1998 release "Echoes from the Garden" this album contains all previously unreleased and unavailable versions. This CD EP was released to coincide with Lana's 1999 Japanese tour.

¯ The up-tempo opener "Rhapsody" is a new song and a future Lana Lane classic.
¯ "Escher's Staircase" is a remix of the classic track from the album "Curious Goods".
¯ The original version of "Frankenstein Unbound (Long Echoes Version)" can be found on the 1999 release "Queen of the Ocean". This version has some additional solos and a fourth verse that weren't on the original.
¯ The original version of the AOR ballad "Without You (Early Version)" can also be found on the album "Queen of the Ocean". This version has a different guitar solo played by Neil Citron and NS/Sticks instead of fretless bass. The mix is also slightly different.
¯ The album ends with the original 1995 Version of "Through the Fire" that appeared on the original release of the 1995 album "Love is an Illusion". The original version that can be heard here isn't available on any other release, as the original 1995 pressing has been discontinued. A version of it can be found on the "Love is an Illusion (1998 version)" album with new rhythm tracks.

The cover art is once again made by the Polish painter Jacek Yerka, and it's called "Up From the Deep".

I don't find this release as necessary as the 1998 CD EP "Echoes from the Garden", as the songs aren't that different from the original ones. The track "Rhapsody" does make it worth having even though every track is good.

Released by AVALON (MICY-1106)

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-

Tracks:
1. Seasons ("Echoes Mix") (6:05)
2. Leaving Stardust (4:30)
3. This Is Not America (5:12)
4. Coloured Life ("Woodcliff Remix") (5:28)
5. Evolution Revolution ("Long Version") (8:16)
6. Cold Outside ("Woodcliff Remix") (4:13)

This CD EP was released to commemorate with Lana Lane's first Japanese tour in April of 1998, and I can't think of a better way to promote the tour, than with these 6 outstanding previously unreleased songs that is a perfect mixture between progressive rock and hard rock.

¯ The original version of "Seasons (Echoes Mix)" appeared on the album "Garden of the Moon" (1998). This version has a new guitar solo played by Neil Citron, and a new keyboard solo.

¯ "Leaving Stardust" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard from Lana Lane. It's a blues oriented song written by the guitar player Neil Citron, and it was intended for his solo album "Guitar Dreams". I don't know why it wasn't recorded for that album, but now Lana Lane have added lyrics and recorded it for this CD EP. The song has a very nice Hammond organ in the forefront together with Lana's excellent vocals. This is my favorite track on this album!

¯ "This Is Not America" was written by David Bowie, Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays for the original motion picture soundtrack to "The Falcon and The Snowman". I prefer the original singed by David Bowie though.

¯ Next up is one of my all-time Lana Lane favorites, "Coloured Life (Woodcliff Remix)". The original appeared on Lana Lane's first album "Love is an Illusion" (1995).

¯ The original version of "Evolution Revolution (Long Version)" appeared on the album "Garden of the Moon". This version has a long keyboard introduction that didn't appear on the original.

¯ "Cold Outside (Woodcliff Remix)" was also found on Lana's debut album "Love is an Illusion". This is a great album although many of the tracks have been heard before in other versions. There's also the track "Leaving Stardust"
that is one of the best Lana Lane tracks ever.

Released by AVALON (MICY-1052)

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-

Lana Lane / Love Is An Illusion was performed by Lana Lane: Lead and backing vocals
Neil Citron: Lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Mark McCrite: Lead and rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, backing vocals
Danelle Kern: Rhythm guitar
Tommy Amato: Drums and percussion
Don Schiff: NS/Stick, Chapman Stick, bass guitar, cello, contrabass
Erik Norlander: Hammond organ, Mellotron, Rhodes piano, synthesizers, Vocoder, sound effects, backing vocals

With
Tony Franklin: Bass
Danny Lorenze: Drums
Tully Winfield: Backing vocals

Tracks:
1. Liaa Prelude (2:25)
2. Love Is An Illusion (4:06)
3. Coloured Life (5:26)
4. Cold Outside (4:15)
5. Into The Ether (5:21)
6. Through The Fire (5:25)
7. Liaa Interlude (3:05)
8. Through The Rain (7:10)
9. Faerie Tale State Of Mind (4:58)
10. Dream Burnin' Down (5:18)
11. Can't Find My Way Home (5:06)
12. A Night In The Garden (8:00)
13. Liaa Postlude (4:46)

Love is an Illusion was originally released in 1995 before Lana Lane got her international success. It was her debut solo CD and the recording had a very low budget, so the sound quality was suffering from that. Now when Lana have reached international success, especially in Japan, the producer Erik Norlander have decided to remix and re-master the entire album. They have also added three new songs, written in the same spirit as the nowadays-classic symphonic
debut.

There are many skilled musicians in the band. The guitar maestro Neil Citron has added new guitar to some of the tracks. On bass they've got the well-known Tony Franklin (Blue Murder, The Firm). Erik Norlander is a keyboard wizard and adds a very nice flavor to the music with his mix of old and new keyboards. For example he's got Mellotron, Hammond Organ, Rhodes Piano and Minimoog. Lana's vocals are strong and powerful as always.

The music is a mix between AOR, 70's progressive rock and melodic hard rock / heavy metal. It's quite reminiscent to Heart. There's no point in picking out any favorites on this album, because there's no weak tracks. The absolute highlight though are "Coloured Life", with a beautiful Mellotron and some Beatles influences.

The cover art is called "Susan" and it's made by Jacek Yerka. The fantastic album booklet also contains recording information, lyrics and many nice photos.

I haven't heard the original version of this album, but this reissue is definitely worth buying! And by the way, Love is not an illusion, because I'm in love with this album, and that's a fact!

Released by AVALON (MICY-1069)

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-