Sweden's obsession with
AOR has given birth to yet another iteration of the genre with 'Take One'.
Linehouse are Niklas Dernebo on vocals and Jonas Ohlund on everything else . . . guitars, keyboards etc etc.
A quick bit of history first. On the strength of a 3 track demo, Bjorn (Baltimoore) Lodin took a hand in the production of this full length studio album, mixing and mastering and - the ultimate seal of approval - releasing it on his own label.
It's solid, classy stuff, loveable without being addictive.
I'd like to say that the duo put fresh spins on a well explored genre, but they don't.
And if you don't, you need to write great songs and record them with a warm, valve driven ambience, but they didn't.
The latter is clearly the result of a restrictive production budget, but the former shows an enervating lack of imagination.
It seems like the duo have stepped gingerly through a bunch of carefully crafted songs and lost some of their energy en route.
Okay, enough downside. On the upside, there's a reserved, genteel grandiosity to several of the songs here. The simple, measured arrangements and poppy tunes on '
Every Little Heartbeat', '
Breathe Through You' and '
Two Hearts', uncluttered and understated, give these tracks a chance to grow and blossom into genuinely impressive
AOR songs.
The comparatively up tempo '
What Makes It Feel' and
'The Fear Of Losing You' employ spare, streamlined guitarwork, giving both a little more (and very welcome) bite.
But great
AOR songs have drive and urgency, and if they're really great, they climax with a towering chorus and a heartstopping hook. That doesn't mean overheated and overdone, there's plenty of room for heartfelt emotion and good old fashioned sentimentality, but too often on
'Take One' these qualities have been subverted by restraint.
Last word, they leave the best to second last.
'Here For You' steps way outside the restrictions they've placed upon themselves. Sounding like they built it with a collection of spare parts from old Martin Page,
Uriah Heep and Jim Steinman songs, this track is an absolute cracker. If only there had been more like this.
The follow up album will be very interesting indeed.
Written by
Brian Sunday, January 31, 2010
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 5.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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