SKAGARACK - Big Time [digital remaster] (2012)

*

Without a doubt, SKAGARACK was one of the best Scandinavian Melodic Rock / AOR acts ever, and together with Pretty Maids, the finest coming out from Denmark.
Their four albums are all utterly essential in any collection. While the first two are pure keyboard driven AOR, their 3rd added more guitars to the proceedings.

In "Big Time" (1993), the last, Skagarack slightly turned their style into more melodic hard rock sounds, still retaining the band's classic AOR pedigree.
This album is usually relegated in the fan favorite lists, but it's an absolute cracker as the previous ones. In fact, I think "Big Time" includes some of the best Skagarack's tunes in history.
Just check the awesome melodic hard rock bliss of "Somebody Like Me" and "Ain't You Got A Mother", the pure AOR heaven in "It's Never Too Late" or the irresistible melodic line of "Hold On Just One More Time".

With Skagarack's singer and mastermind Torben Schmidt recently releasing a delicious solo album (already presented here) the band is reissuing their catalogue with a fresh digital remastering.
"Big Time 2012 remaster" sounds incredible, noticeably enhanced and clean, better than ever, including a bonus track as plus.
This is a Must Have people.
Awesome album.


01 - It's Never Too Late
02 - Ain't You Got A Mother
03 - Somebody Like Me
04 - I Want You
05 - Hold You, Love You, Give You
06 - Edge Of Illusion
07 - Hold On Just One More Time
08 - Wonder If You Really Know
09 - Big Time
10 - It's Never Too Late (Acoustic Version)
11 - This Time Of Year [Bonus Track]


Torben Schmidt - lead & backing vocals
Allan Gade - guitars
Jens Brockhoff - bass
Steen Boel - keyboards
Lars Daugaard - drums


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itunes.apple.com/gb/album/big-time-remastered/id544969895
www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Time-2012-Remastered/dp/B008LUNNYQ

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TORBEN SCHMIDT - Long Story Short (2012)

*

Back in '80s, Danish singer / songwriter TORBEN SCHMIDT was the vocalist, principal writer and frontman of the successful Melodic Rock AOR band Skagarack.
One of the pillars of the genre in Europe, the band enjoyed a healthy career including several awards and an appearance at the prestigious Reading Rock festival, but as the nineties rolled around Torben Schmidt put the band on hold to release his critically acclaimed solo debut A Bit On The Side.
It took almost 20 years to have another Torben Schmidt solo album, "Long Story Short", but well worth the wait.

After his solo debut in 1991, Skagarack recorded another album before the band split. Torben then concentrated on his production company and record label and worked behind the scenes.
But his fans have never forgotten him as performer artist.
States Torben; "Fans and friends have asked me many times over the years, if and when I would release a new solo album, and I always answered next year, next year...
Well, I have said 'next year' so many times that it became embarrassing… So, about three years ago I actually started to record a bunch of my song ideas, and before I knew it I had the eleven songs that are featured on *Long Story Short*.”

In "Long Story Short" there's a definite European Westcoast feel on a lot of the songs, but basically it's a Classic Rock album plenty of delicate melodies and vocal harmonies.
First and foremost, Torben is a great singer, reminding me a bit of Alien’s Jim Jidhed with a very pleasant toneful voice color.
He manages to keep things interesting intercalating uptempo tracks with softer ones, but the rock attitude is ever present.
This CD sounds alive and nicely dynamic in its sound and approach. There's no programming here, all are played by seasoned session musicians and recorded in the traditional old fashion.
Torben also has used musicians not immediately intimately associated to this genre, including two Freak Kitchen members; incredible guitar player Mattias IA Eklund and drummer Björn Fryklund, virtuoso Swedish guitarist Christian Alsing and many others.

From the soaring mid-tempo "Run Away" to the sweet "Looking For A Friendly Face", this lovable album delivers quality in all departments.
We have melodious rockers in "All Is Said" and "Too Damn Cute", damn fine ballads in "You" and "Gently Back To Life", and a good country tingled tune in "Tone It Down" recalling Mark Spiro.
Perhaps my favorite is the catchy & contagious melodic rock of "Take It Like A Man", but the rocking "It's The Fire" is another highlight adorned with a killer guitar solo performed by another guest, guitarist Simon Rabenhöj.
Really Good.


01 - Run Away
02 - All Is Said
03 - Funny
04 - You
05 - Take It Like A Man
06 - Gently Back To Life
07 - Too Damn Cute
08 - Tone It Down
09 - It's The Fire
10 - The Coffee Song
11 - Looking For A Friendly Face

Torben Schmidt - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
Mattias IA Eklund - guitar
Björn Fryklund - drums
Christian Alsing - guitar
Lars Danielsson - bass
and many more





BUY IT !
www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8804141

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