3/5

The very powerful German quintet Tomorrows Eve featuring Chriss Doerr on bass, Rainer Grund on guitars, Martin LeMar on vocals, Tom Diener on drums and Oliver Schwickert on keyboards. They got very hyped in the medias last year with their album "Mirror of Creation II - The Genesis". Now they will thakns the loyal fans by releasing this four track hors d'oevre with two new songs.
Asi said the band is very powerful and from time to time very progressive in their attitude, too. A bit like Pain of Salvation in fact... But never the less Tomorrows Eve is going on tour this summer with power guys Circle II Circle.

4/5

Her we have another project where "Mister AOR" Tommy Denander is involved - and thank God for that:-) Not that Italian born vocalist Michele Luppi (Vision Divine and Mr. Pig) is without talent - on the contrary... I think that his voice fits this project pefectly.
Luppi is brought up - musicalwise - by Robin Randall and also reminds me of a young Mark Free, btw. And on tracks like "When you think of me" and/or "One more Try" the guy really shines, i think that he has one of the best voices in the AOR genre of today, surprisingly enough (for me) because of his contribution to mostly progressive metal. But also opener "I will carry on" is a true masterpiece in melodic songwriting and ditto performance. But also the more mellow or balladesque tracks like "Thanks to you" he shows his strength. Luppi and friends gives the AOR genre a little gasoline here, not that Los Angeles will make a revolution in the business, but they are true to their roots and at the same time they have put some heavy fingerprints and a modern sound to the project.
As I said Tommy Denander is outstanding as usual, his crisp and razor sharp guitars is very recognizable, but also the delicate sound of Gregg Giuffria's keyboards is great - and combined with the grand production of multiinstrumentalist Fabrizio Grossi it can never fail.
Los Angeles is a great piece of AOR - very digestable and on the other hand very spicy. I really really like this...

4/5

Robin Beck is back - with a big bang. I had almost forgot why I always had a soft spot for female fronted AOR like Heart, Fiona and Tone Norum. But with "Living' on a Dream" i can remember why... because of the radiofriendly approach with the glass breaking high pitched vocals from the whoarse Robin Beck.
On this her 7th album the songs are written by celebs like Tommy Denander and husband James Christian - this lethal duo also produced the album. On the album Jimi Bell plays the guitars, William Zampa hits the drums and James Christian plays the bass and keyboards - all very smooth and elegant!
I feel like brought back home to the mid 8o's with fabulous tracks like "Love me like a Man", my favorite "Always" and "Nothings gonna change your World" - but the whole album ooozesss with mid tempo well produced/arranged songs well played songs performed by the very emotional Robin Beck, and on that account it is a very personal album - and especially the duet with James Christian called "Till the last Tear drop falls" really is a heartwrenching ballad - an absolute calssic in spe!!!
This album is one of the best comeback album in my collection - and even though the genre in general has had a reborn period lately this album from Robin Beck is already an absolute favorite in my collection. Great great great!