LANA LANE - El Dorado Hotel (2012)

thanks to Craig for the review

*

It's good to welcome back Lana Lane, after a four year absence, and her fine new studio album, "El Dorado Hotel".
Once more Ms. Lane sounds incredible; she's one of the great pure melodic rock vocalists on the planet.

The genius of Lana Lane is her ability to move between smooth, sultry, and soaring vocals with effortless ease. Her voice is a convincing and entertaining instrument that equally surrounds and lifts any music to a higher plane.
Yet, it's when her voice is the singular focus of the song that sends chills down your spine. "Hotels" is that song on El Dorado Hotel; a song that you could easily put on repeat as it is pure unadulterated bliss.
But that's not to say Lane doesn't excel throughout this disc. Other notable performances are found on "El Dorado", "Believe", "Gone Are The Days".

Of course when you come to a Lana Lane album, you must also recognize the music. Mostly developed by husband Erik Norlander, "El Dorado Hotel" straddles the fence of AOR melodic rock and prog rock, again, with same effortless ease as Lane's voice.
"A Dream Full of Fire" and "El Dorado" offers some interesting guitar, nearly ethnic, Spanish, in character. "Darkness Falls" allows for that contrast of heaviness and lightness common in a Lane/Norlander arrangement.
"Believe", "Life of the Party", and especially "Gone Are The Days" more rock romps, with that last one quite catchy radio-friendly inspiration.
The depth of musicianship rises on the progressive closing tune, "In Exile". Finally, and again, "Hotels" must be given kudos as the arrangement is so sublime and unassuming, given only to display Lana Lane's gift.


Lana Lane's "El Dorado Hotel" is pure musical magic. Another wonderful display of her beautiful voice, with a unique clear tone that fits perfectly in these tunes.
The music is damn fine too, blending European-styled Melodic Rock AOR and classic progressive rock with modern sensibilities. The brain is her husband/producer/keyboardist Erik Norlander (Ayreon), with stellar appearances like the great John Payne (ASIA), Bruce Bouillet (Racer X) & Guthrie Govan (ASIA) on guitars, and Jay Schellen (ASIA, Unruly Child) on drums.
Strongly recommended.


01. A Dream Full Of Fire
02. Maybe We`ll Meet Again
03. El Dorado
04. Darkness Falls
05. Hotels
06. Believe
07. Life Of The Party
08. Gone Are The Days
09. Moon God
10. In Exile

Lana Lane - vocals
Erik Norlander - keyboards, additional guitars, bass and programming

Line-up:
John Payne - harmony and choral vocals, mandolin
Mark McCrite - guitars, bass, choral vocals, programming
Bruce Bouillet - guitars
Neil Citron - guitars
Freddy DeMarco - guitars
Guthrie Govan - guitar
Don Schiff - NS/Stick
Mark Matthews - bass
Jay Schellen - drums




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www.thetank.com/lledh.htm