If you can overlook Voss's vocal histrionics, you'll be impressed by this powerful and explosive debut from
Casanova, originally released in 1991, presented as a deluxe reissue with 7 bonus tracks, by the enterprising Divebomb Records.
Where some bands took time to grow into something great,
Casanova were born with it. And tellingly, the band's line up has remained largely unchanged over the years.
It's highly derivative hard rock - the Dokken-esque
'Girl Is Mine' and Cinderella-ish
'Rome Burns' tip the hat to established, high charting US rock bands -
but on tracks like
'Love Lies', '
Hollywood Angels' and '
Back To The Wall' you can hear Voss shaping a unique
Casanova sound.
That meant taking a few leaves out the American hard rock song book while making a quick detour via Sunset Strip to soak in the sights and sounds. The result is a spectacular, colourful first chapter in the history of an enduring European melodic rock band.
Sound quality is excellent. The tracks have not been remastered within an inch of their lives, thank god. Dynamic range has not been sacrificed for volume, and that's unquestionably one of the reasons this material sounds so good.
There are 7 bonus tracks (yes, seven), and although you'll be thinking there must be a few clunkers here, there aren't.
In fact, and honest, no exaggeration, I'd happily buy a CD of just the bonus tracks. They are that good.
The acoustic versions of
'Love Lies' and
'Hollywood Angels' have been skilfully crafted, allowing them to stand apart from and above the studio versions. You can tell so much from a band's acoustic recordings, where they have to rely on their craft as musicians and performers, rather than studio technology.
That plus vibrant, better-than-the-album live versions of
'Burning Love' and
'Don't Talk About Love', largely due to Voss's toned down vocal performance. But you can also hear a band rising to the occasion, tuned up and tuned in, giving it all they've got.
Unfortunately it arrived on the cusp of the corporate rock backlash and despite critical acclaim, it suffered an ignominious fate.
All the more reason for the label's decision to celebrate it now. Respect.
Written by
Brian Thursday, May 6, 2010
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