HOUSTON - Relaunch (2011)

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Golden Swedes HOUSTON are releasing "Relaunch", a new album covering classic AOR songs.
Produced – as with the ‘Houston’ debut – by AOR connoisseur Ricky Delin, includes one new original track (written by Delin) plus two bonus acoustic tracks recently recorded.

Says Houston drummer & core member, Freddie Allen:
“This year has been so great for Houston, with the first album getting so much recognition, so we just wanted to show everyone where we come from musically. ‘Relaunch’ is a way of paying tribute to our heroes, whilst at the same time updating today’s audience on the classic AOR songs we have loved for so long.
The Michael Bolton composition ‘Carrie’ was a track we felt has been somewhat overlooked through the years, and the same with the Laura Branigan ballad, ‘Didn’t We Almost Win It All’.
Meanwhile, ‘Runaway’, the opening track, by Dakota, is a genuinely classic song, and that’s also true of Airrace’s ‘Brief Encounter’.
To top it all off, our producer Ricky Delin wrote a new song called ‘Without Your Love’, and the mini-album also includes acoustic versions of two of the debut album’s songs, which we recorded in London back in March.
We sincerely hope you will enjoy this record as much as we do!”

Just wait to listen their awesome version of "Carrie", the great song criminally underrated between AOR circles, or the driven take on Airrace's "Brief Encounter", my favorites here.
"Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya" remains as one of my top songs ever. Houston version is more modernized and spacey, with a big guitar solo. Really good.
A surprise (a good one) is to find Laura Branigan's "Didn’t We Almost Win It All", beautiful ballad covered with Houston's elegant touches, they excel on these kind tunes.
Another perennial top classic song is "Runaway", nicely arranged here.

I am a sucker for everything recorded by Houston, and "Relaunch" is not the exception.
This magic duo has the melodies, the talent and that 'special touch' necessary to be elegant and different into the AOR genre.
Highly Recommended


You've seen it first here, at 0dayrock


1) Runaway (originally recorded by US AORsters Dakota)

2) Carrie (originally recorded by Michael Bolton)

3) Brief Encounter (originally recorded by UK melodic maestros Airrace and featuring Airrace’s Laurie Mansworth on guest guitar)

4) Don’t You Know What Love Is (originally recorded by US outfit Touch, the first band ever to play the Monsters Of Rock festival, and featuring Touch's keyboard player Mark Mangold on guest vox)

5) Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya (originally recorded by US Pompsters New England, whose self-titled debut album was produced by Kiss’ Paul Stanley)

6) Didn’t We Almost Win It All (originally recorded by the late Laura Branigan)

7) Without Your Love (New 2011 song written by Ricky Delin; a duet with Amaranthe front-woman Elize Ryd)

8) Truth Slips (New 2011 acoustic recording)

9) 1000 Songs (New 2011 acoustic recording)



Hampus 'Hank' Erix - Lead Vocals
Freddie Allen - Drums
Laurie Mansworth - guest guitar
Mark Mangold - guest keyboards, backing vocals
Elize Ryd - guest vocals




BUY IT!
www.amazon.com/Relaunch-Houston/dp/B005S0NFO0

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HOUSTON - Don't You Know What Love Is (2011)

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Swedish AOR sensation Houston are releasing "Relaunch", a mini album of mostly covers on November 14.

The advanced single now available on digital stores is a wonderful cover version of Touch’s classic AOR song "Don’t You Know What Love Is", written by legend Mark Mangold, who also plays guest keyboards.
The 'b-side' "Without Your Love" is a brand new 2011 track written by band producer Ricky Delin and featuring Amaranthe vocalist Elize Ryd on duet vocals.
As exclusive preview, we could also hear another track from "Relaunch", the cover of New England’s celebrated classic "Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya", a terrific version if any at all!

Houston is getting better and better, taking the classic AOR flag with honor.
Highly Recommended.


1 - Don't You Know What Love Is (Touch cover, ft. Mark Mangold)

2 - Without Your Love (New Song 2011)

3 - Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya (New England cover)



Hampus 'Hank' Erix - Lead Vocals
Freddie Allen - Drums
Mark Mangold - guest keyboards, backing vocals
Elize Ryd - guest vocals




BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-You-Know-What-Love/dp/B005TR9MLM

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HOUSTON - Truth Slips [EP] (2011)

The 2010 self-titled debut from this mighty Swedish duo was one of the highlights of the year. Their early '80s style AOR along the lines of Journey, Foreigner, Survivor could have come directly from 1986.

Now Houston is releasing an EP with their 2nd album cut "Truth Slips".
This is more than a single accompanied by some alternate versions to seduce the fans.
The new acoustic recordings - piano, acoustic guitars and vocals - clearly demonstrates that Houston is not just a studio project / over-produced band, as these songs work and stand on their own in stripped versions.
Beautifully performed and arranged, this is a Must Have EP.
You've seen it here first, at 0dayrock



1 - Truth Slips [album version]
2 - Under Your Skin (Acoustic)
3 - 1000 Songs (Acoustic)
4 - Truth Slips (Acoustic)


Hampus "Hank" Erix - Lead Vocals
Freddie Allen - Drums
Helena Alsterhed - Vocals
Tommy Denander - Keyboards, Guitar
Mats Olausson - Keyboards




BUY IT !
itunes.apple.com/gb/album/truth-slips-ep/id438483299

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HOUSTON - ST [UK edition + 2 Bonus] (2010)

The 2010 debut from this Swedish duo was one of the highlights of the year.
Their early '80s style AOR along the lines of Journey, Toto, Survivor could have come directly from 1986.

The special UK edition features 2 extra tracks as bonus and different artwork. Here they are for you.
I you still don't know HOUSTON, don't waste more time, you can find the regular (10 tracks) release & review HERE


11 - Under Your Skin (UK bonus track)
12 - Chasing The Dream (UK bonus track)


IF YOU LIKE IT, BUY IT!

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HOUSTON - Houston (2010)

The Swedish duo of Hampus "Hank" Erix (vocals) and Freddie Allen (Drums) make up the sensation called HOUSTON some months ago when they released their debut single "Hold On" to the world.
Finally we have here the full album.

Houston's passion for the music come together and along side an inventive producer in Ricky B. Delin who brings a great crew together with the likes of Tommy Denander, Tomas Vikström (Talk Of The Town, Candlemass) and Mats Olausson (Yngwie Malmsteen) to add more power to their already catchy sound.

The single “Hold On” was a nice advance, with soaring guitars, soft keyboards and the sweet vocals, but are tracks like “I’m Alive” that make the record flow with energy and provides the listener with the classic chords of vintage AOR.
The keys in “Give Me Back My Heart” are soulfully played with the heartfelt drums marching on in this arena style rocker.
The chorus in “She’s A Mistery” is definitely not hard to figure out as everything comes together on this track to unite more high rising harmonies.
The name sake for Houston fits perfectly on these songs here as Denander provies a futuristic keyboard presence on some of the songs, which fit perfectly with the classic AOR vibe throughout the record.

Well much hard work it took for the guys to complete the record and it shows in the production and the performance.
I think as time passes on we will go back and refer to this release as a top notch... perhaps classic?
You never know, all I know is that the music here is delivered to perfection with all the catchy hooks and enticing melodies we come to expect from veterans in the genre.

One of the strongest releases of the year without a doubt.
Knock this one back into you CD player because you’ll end up listening to it endless times.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED


01 - Pride
02 - Truth Slips
03 - Hold On
04 - I'm Alive
05 - One Chance
06 - Give Me Back My Heart
07 - Misery
08 - She's A Mystery
09 - Now
10 - 1000 Songs



Hampus "Hank" Erix - Lead Vocals
Freddie Allen - Drums

Tommy Denander - Keyboards, Guitar
Mats Olausson - Keyboards
Thomas Vikström - Vocals
... and many more session musicians

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