| The
Review |
There are some in the progressive rock community who
have done really well carving out a sound and a following.
Such is the case with Lana Lane. Lane’s new release, her first
to be distributed by ProgRock Records is actually her thirteenth
CD recording. She has been called the “Queen of Symphonic
Rock” but on her newest release she makes a slight departure
in musical style. Given the diversity of her back catalog
that shouldn’t surprise anyone. ***
As on previous occasions Lane has surrounded herself with
a set of topnotch musicians including Erik Norlander, Vinny
Appice, Tony Franklin, George Lynch, Mark McCrite and Kelly
Keeling. Needless to say the performances are top notch and
provide a solid backdrop to Lane’s vocal style that here takes
the form of covering some of her favorite classic rock songs
from the sixties and seventies. The CD is called Gemini making
the point this is her second CD of covers. And to drive home
the dual nature of the title she’s selected two songs from
some of her favorites: Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Moody Blues,
Heart, Foreigner, and Pink Floyd. Her renditions are quite
faithful to the originals although they do display her own
vocal tone quite well. The music is pretty much note for note
reconstruction but Lane’s vocals retain her distinctive flair.
My favorite track is from one of my least favorite bands,
Foreigner. Lane does a wonderful version of “Long Long Way
From Home” which has such a great satisfying melody. And that’s
one of the reasons these songs have been chosen. She was focusing
on material that emphasized melody. Other familiar songs include
“White Room”, “Time” “White Rabbit”, “Nights in White Satin”
along with ten other selections. ***
With such a huge following in Japan and Europe Lana Lane’s
Gemini hardly needs any kind of sales pitch. Suffice to say
Gemini will find pride-of-place on the CD shelves of Lana
Lane fans everywhere while they wait for her next release
of new material. If you enjoy the music of the bands mentioned
and are looking for a new-ish take on the music this would
be a good place to start. Not in anyway trend-setting or ground-breaking,
Lana Lane’s Gemini is however a solidly satisfying listen.
***
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