LUBA - Luba EP (1982)
With an Ukrainian origin, Luba Kowalchyk born in Montreal, Canada in 1958.
After the recording of a new-wave/pop oriented indie disc in the beginning of the eighties, legendary manager and producer Paul Levesque signed her personally to a new deal with a major label.
A four-track miniLP under his moniker was released in 1982. This is a superb AOR / Melodic Rock female fronted EP.
Opener "Scarlet Letter" sets the style of this recording from the first note: killer up-tempo rocker with a lot of bite, sharp guitars and wonderful keyboards. Luba's vocals are deep and energetic, with a distinctive tone.
"Everytime I See Your Picture" is a monster AOR power ballad, tons of emotion with a tempo and vocals to die for. This was the radio single which become a hit across the Montreal area. The song was re-recorded later for Luba's next album, but this original version is far superior.
The classic AOR-rock pattern of "Paramour" makes this tune another winner. Luba sings like a cat in heat and the awesome keyboard line gives you chills.
Last track "Raven's Eyes" is a marching melodic rocker with a great guitar work right up in quality with the best of Tane Cain, earlier Fiona or Martee LeBow.
Luba became a star during the eighties, releasing interesting albums more rock&pop / lite AOR oriented, but this miniLP is her MR/AOR gem.
One of these 'essential female fronted' albums that you can not miss in your collection.
Vinyl audio restored by me.
1 - Scarlet Letter
2 - Eveytime I See Your Picture
3 - Paramour
4 - Raven's Eyes
Luba - Lead & background vocals
Mark Lyman - Guitars
Michael Bell - Bass
Pierre Marchand - Keyboards, background vocals
Pete Marunzak - Drums
FRONTIERS - Front Page (1986)
Frontiers was a 6-piece band from Avesta, Sweden, founded by guitarist Peter Söderström and drummer Johan Kullberg halfway the '80s.
As many of local bands at that time, their music is heavily influenced by american AOR acts, being in this case Journey (also noticeable by the group's name) but with the addition of the characteristic Scandi sound.
Their one and only album, the miniLP "Front Page" is a very nice slice of melodic rock / AOR, sometimes naif and wimp, although precisely in that point resides their charm.
"Time Will Tell" has a 'spacy' AOR style with ethereal keyboards, remiscent of primal Journey, with a vintage guitar sound. This is a real cool track with a pompous middle section.
On "Help Me Now" is where their indie origin is more evident, I really like the vocal arrangement on this one. This track has a New England vibe.
The ballad "This Feeling" has that scandi stamp only possible to find in swedish bands and last track "Separate Worlds" takes its inspiration in Giuffria and again, Journey.
Some people argue this young band was unoriginal and generic, to me, this mini-album has some kind of fascination not always present into indie recordings.
Years after, Kullberg went on to join Talk Of The Town and later Lion's Share, and together with Söderström formed in 2003 a new project called Ignition.
Cool miniLP. Vinyl audio restored by me.
1 - Time Will Tell
2 - Help Me Now
3 - This Feeling
4 - Separate Worlds
Tony Brorsson - Lead Vocals
Peter Söderström - Guitar, Piano, Bkg Vocals
Hans Asp - Guitar, Bkg Vocals
Patrik Söderström - Bass, Bkg Vocals
Peo Gaasvik - Keyboards, Bkg Vocals
Johan Kullberg - Drums
LUBA '82 + FRONTIERS: Front Page '86 Restored
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