PRISONER OF THE NIGHT [AKA: LONG BLONDE ANIMAL]

With this album GE enters into the eighties and released their fifteenth album in a 15 years period. Quite consistent to say the least. One surprise here: the come-back of Jan Stips (who was absent from the prior release). Would this mean anything in terms of music?

Well not during the opener: ''Long Blond Animal'' has a definite new wave sound (but this could already be noticed in ''Grab It?'' which was released in 1978). Nor during the pure revival rock ''No For An Answer''. It is obvious that the band is not focused in the writing of longer songs and that the format now is more radio-friendly than several years ago. But, were the radios still interested in air playing a band as GE in the early eighties?

This album is no better than ''No Promises?''. There are little variety available: same sort of basic rock tunes with little spicy ingredients. Not disturbing, but not thrilling either like the vaguely AOR ''Prisoner Of The Night''.

The first good song could have been '' I Don't Wanna Be?'' but the chorus line is hard to swallow. It all started well and involves a fine middle part though. But fine moments are hard to find on this album. The pop-rock ''Come In Outerspace'' maybe.

The electronic oriented '' Going Crazy Again'' sounds definitely as a song from the eighties at least during the intro which is keyboards oriented (finally Stips can be noticeably heard!), but again the poor chorus ruins it partially.

This is not a good album. I really hesitate between one and two stars but I'll give the band credit. For this time.