GEMINI

Lana Lane is a US based artist, that has steadily released records for the past 12 years. Gemini is her 13th release; and is a cover album.

Now, cover albums in too many cases are a bitch. Much too often one or more covers are made by artists either trying to get more popular again after a downfall in their careers, or due to creativity having dried up for an artist or a band. For every classic rock track written in the past, you'll find dozens of versions that at best are lacklustre.

Entire albums with cover versions are a tad more rare than individual tracks, but often with the same results - more or less lacklustre to mediocre versions that subtracts rather than adds listening value to the songs in question.

Thankfully, Lana Lane's outing is much more inspired than most releases of this kind.

Now, saying something useful and informative about 15 tracks in varying styles is a daunting task, and I won't even go there. Generally speaking, how much you'll enjoy this release depends largely on how much you like the originals of these tracks - and to how great extent you feel that the original recordings are "holy cows" or not.

A general impression of the album is that the production and the vocal delivery is the red thread here. The songs have been made and produced with what in my ears is a warm and organic tinge, being a very fitting musical backdrop for Lane's somewhat cold voice. And the vocal delivery here adds touches of melodrama to the songs, creating a special nerve and tension throughout the album. Lana Lane also shows that her voice is very versatile , singing songs in somewhat different styles with what appears to be the greatest of ease.

The musicians used on the album are all well known and accomplished musicians the lot of them. And all of them treat these songs with respect, but at the same time adding subtle nuances and individual touches (unless my ears are badly out of order).

Personal highlight: "The Pink Moon Suite" - tracks by Pink Floyd and one from Heart seamlessly interwoven in 15 minutes of pure musical pleasure.

Covers Collection II

According to Lana Lane's official website, it became a tradition for the band to release a "specialty" album every two years. This tradition began with Ballad Collection in 1998, continued with Ballad Collection II in 2000, Covers Collection in 2002, Winter Sessions in 2004, and finally, Gemini in 2006. Gemini is another covers album, and could very well have been called simply "Covers Collection II". All of these "specialty" albums are good, and worthwhile for the fans, but they are consistently less interesting than the band's regular studio output. Out of these five, Ballad Collection II is the best.

The present covers album is in my view somewhat less interesting than the first Covers Collection. The bands covered this time are Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Foreigner, The Moody Blues, Heart, and Pink Floyd. Several songs from latter's classic Dark Side Of The Moon album, together with one song by Heart, here make up what is here called "The Pink Moon Suite". Johnny Moon by Heart fits surprisingly well among Breathe, On The Run, Time, and Breathe Reprise. Still, for me, the Pink Moon Suite is actually the least interesting part of the album. I know it counts as blasphemy here, but I've never been a big fan of Dark Side Of The Moon!

There are two songs by The Moody Blues, including (the dull!) Nights In White Satin. I much prefer the other Moody Blues number, You Can Never Go Home (from the Every Good Boy Deserves Favour album) which features some nice keyboard exercises by Norlander.

Good, but primarily for fans this one

Lana Lane´s second cover collection album is quite different from the first. While Covers Collection (2002) had several tracks that were not classics and some bands quite obscure, this time she decided to focused almost entirely on classic stuff. The only real surprise is the two Foreigner tracks included here: the hard rocking Long Way From Home and the more progressive Starrider (both from their self titled debut of 1977, the latter certainly one of their best). The remaining tracks were from more obvious choices like Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Heart. Cream and The Jefferson Airplane.

The best cuts are the Pink Moon Suite (four tracks from Dark Side Of The Moon put together with Heart´s Johnny Moon), on which they do creditable, respectful and convincing versions that work very well with Lane´s vocals. They alone may be well worth the price of the CD alone. Heart´s Dream Of The Archer is another one, where it is clear that Ann Wilson´s vocal delivering is one of Lane´s greatest influences along with Grace Slick´s (White Rabbit is covered too). Actually the only song that didn´t really work is the Moody Blues Nights In White Satin, that somewhat turned out a bit dull and uninspired. Cream´s White Room and Sunshine Of Your Love are a bit out of place here too, but are saved by the excellent instrumental work, specially of the lead guitarist George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob). Lynch certainly is one of the highlights of Gemini, giving it a hard edge where needed.

While I can´t say that this collection is essential, it is still high above mere good. The versions were very well done and the instrumental accompaniment is absolutely gorgeous. Small surprise considering the caliber of the musicians involved. Needless to say, Lane´s vocals are also superb. Maybe, like the first, they should be a little bolder concerning the choice of material, but what to do? This is clearly an album that was done for fun and they did a fine job. Production and sound engineering were like always in the hands of Lane´s husband, Erik Norlander (who also is presenting us with some of the finest keyboards works around these days). And he produced a very organic and crystalline sound.

In the end you get the impression they,if they wish so, could have made a living being a covers band only. Yes, they are THAT good.

Rating: 3,5 stars at least. A fine album to listen to.