J.R. BLACKMORE & Friends - Voices Part 1 (2011)

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Jürgen Blackmore was born in London in 1964 as the son of guitar virtuoso Ritchie Blackmore and his German wife, Margit.
Raised in Hamburg, Jürgen received his first acoustic guitar at the age of 10, and with the encouragement of his mother, the little player knew early on that he would have a career in music.
After his own band 1990's debut 'Still Holding On' and an instrumental album, he was involved in several projects, being the most recent last year's 'EBC Roxx' (featured on 0dayrock) in collaboration with female singer ELA and the legendary Tony Carey, recording the CD called ‘Winners’.

In 2011 Jürgen started his own record and publishing company, to release his really first integral album; "Voices".
Entirely written by him, and with a tight band assembled with renowned musicians, Blackmore called the best melodic hard rock vocalists from Germany such as Oliver Hartmann, Michael Bormann, ELA, Dave Esser and more.
The oriental-style "Voices" opens the album with a mystical-sounding intro, and then develops into a classic hard rocker quite similar to earlier Rainbow. Singer Mark Engelstädter fits perfectly with a vocal tone resembling Swedish Mats Leven. Jürgen R. Blackmore has noticeably evolved with the 6 strings, palpable on his melodic and accurate legato phrases throughout the disc.
Follower "Guardian Angel" has a much more commercial approach, featuring one of the best singers recently appeared in Germany, the Rüsselsheim-born Oliver Hartmann.
"Beethoven" has an epic and (obviously) neo-classical structure, but Jürgen never lets the music go too heavy. Here comes the first surprise of the album; the lead vocals are at charge of Michael Bormann (Jaded Heart), singing in a style never heard from this melodic frontman. I am not completely convinced if it works or not...

"Destructive Mania" has the female vocals of the (unknown to me) Catherine Jauer, a more than interesting singer with powerful and articulated vocalizations.
On "Incomplete" Michael Bormann returns to the mic, and now yes, his melodic vocals appear and really fits this song, a very nice semi-slow melodic ballad with an inventive guitar work by Jurgen and a swirling keyboard solo. Sadly, to my ears, this track deserved a better mix.
Dave Esser does a good job on "Jeckyl & Hyde" imposting his deep and low tone on this good (although a bit generic) rocker, while ELA sings the dark "Nanshu" in a semi-symphonic style adding some variation.
For "Victorious", Engelstädter was again a right choice, he sounds as Mark Boals in places.
As bonus, last track "Dreams" is a fine instrumental piece taken from Jurgen's 'Between Darkness And Light' solo album.


J.R. Blackmore has released his more complete and consistent CD to date with "Voices".
Jürgen playing and songwriting has his father's genes not being necessarily a clone, but Ritchie's influence is undeniable, as well as Uli J. Roth, Steve Morse and many other classic guitarists.
As all albums featuring such diverse vocalists, some tracks work better than others, you need somehow a magic touch to choose the right singer for each track.
On "Voices", the result is successful for the most part, being specially Mark Engelstädter a revelation to me.
Nice and Classic Hard Rock melodies abound on "Voices", a correctly produced album (apparently only to be released in Germany) that worth to investigate.

You've seen it first here, at 0dayrock


1. Voices (ft. Markus Engelstädter)
2. Guardian Angel (ft. Oliver Hartmann)
3. Beethoven (ft. Michael Bormann)
4. Destructive Mania (ft. Cathrine Jauer)
5. Incomplete (ft. Michael Bormann)
6. Devil in Disguise (ft. Oliver Hartmann)
7. Jeckyll & Hyde (ft. Dave Esser)
8. Victorious (ft. Markus Engelstädter)
9. Nanshu (ft. ELA & Dave Esser)
10. We Are Rock´n Roll (ft. Dave Esser)
11. Dreams (Bonus Track - instrumental)


J.R. Blackmore: Guitars
Paul Morris (Doro, Rainbow): Keyboards
Danny Miranda (Queen, Meat Loaf): Bass
Charly Zeleny (D-I-O-N): Drums

Vocals:
Markus Engelstädter (Flash Queen coverband, musicals): 1 / 8
Oliver Hartmann (Avantasia, At Vance, Solo): 2 / 6
Michael Bormann (Jaded Heart): 3 / 5
Cathrine Jauer (First Child, Cat): 4
ELA (Ela Rocks, EBC Roxx): 9
Dave Esser (OpusDavi, Schattenspieler): 7 / 10









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www.musicload.de/j-r-blackmore-friends/voices/musik/album/11092079_2

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MICHAEL BORMANN - Different (2010)

Multifacetic artist, Michael Bormann is a busy man.
Best known as founding and long time member of Germany's melodic hard rock band JADED HEART, while still maintaining involvement in countless projects (CHARADE, ZENO, BISS, THE RAIN) as musician, producer, engineer, songwriter... everything.

This year it's time for a his own solo effort.
Bormann: " I am very happy with "Different". It really took me a while (on and off within the last 10 months….) to accomplish the album."
Except few contributions, Micheal did everything on this recording, a true 'solo' album.

The opening track "Life Is A Miracle" starts off with a knockout punch that has a beat that will be burnt into your memory. This is one of those tracks that you can be anywhere in the world and you will hear that beat in the back of your mind and start to chant. Good.
"To The Top" has the essence of a classic nineties rocker yet adds some classy piano and slicing guitar which makes this more than just a rock tune.
"Think Twice" is a subtle ballad with acoustics and keyboards that makes a sentimental journey through your thoughts. A Jaded Heart-style song. Very Good.
"Somebody", a simple song filled with acoustic guitars, has an american feel and good vibe.
I was expecting a rocker now, but "Mr Rock 'N Roll" is a little and insipid short fiddle, followed by "My Favorite Time", a cool melodic track, but lacks power and essence.

Luckily Michael hits with some rock on "Breathless". This one is in the style of his last project RAIN, with strong rhythm guitars and a nice solo, and the multilayered chorus works well.
"Don't You Tell Me" sets down the pace again, but in a good form. Intimate ballad ala Bon Jovi with an '80s feel.
"Wouldn't Let You Down" is a generic midtempo, not bad but nothing spectacular.
"Who Really Wants To Get Older" it's a in-your-face rocker with Bormann’s vocals taking total command.
"No Way Out - It Hurts" is another up-tempo rocker, but with a clean mix, pretty commercial, in the vein of Jaded Heart's earlier recordings.
"Was Mir Fehlt" closes the album, a soft piano-acoustic guitar-only ballad sung in german, it's very nice and one of the best vocal performances here.

Mostly melodic soft tunes peppered with some fresh rockers, "Different" as the title indicates, it's not the usual material that you expect from Michael Bormann.
Surely he has put together all the stuff he can't do into other projects.
His voice is sweet and melodic here, a mix of Michael Voss of MADMAX with some vintage JON BON JOVI for a good measure.
A cool album, although generic and a bit boring. Maybe an external producer would have given more life to these songs.
Anyway, it's a pleasant listening, especially the ballad "Think Twice" and the opening track, both very well crafted songs.


01 - Life Is A Miracle
02 - To The Top
03 - Think Twice
04 - Somebody
05 - Mr Rock 'N Roll
06 - My Favourite Time
07 - Breathless
08 - Don't You Tell Me
09 - Wouldn't Let You Down
10 - Who Really Wants To Get Older
11 - No Way Out - It Hurts
12 - Was Mir Fehlt


Michael Bormann : Vocals, All Instruments
Additional musicians;
Andreas Rippelmeier : Guitar
Lanvall : Guitars, synthesizers, piano.
Chris Ivo : Keyboards
Eric Ragno : Keyboards
Marco Grasshoff : Keyboards

Produced, Recorded & Mixed by Michael Bormann




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