CASABLANCA

City's 1980's output is somewhat less interesting and innovative than their 1970's releases, which are the prime reason for their inclusion on this site. The 1983 album "Unter der Haut" marked a fundamental change in their direction with keyboards becoming the basis for their sound in place of violin and lead guitar.

This 1987 release continues the move towards shorter accessible pop rock numbers, the longest track here running to a mere 5 minutes. Thankfully though, the electro-pop of ""Unter der Haut" is less in evidence now, the overall feel of the album being decidedly more rock orientated. The opening "Cinema hall" paints an enjoyable picture (in German) against an upbeat guitar driven rhythm. There is little to distinguish the track, and indeed the album, from the many other bands who offer a similar style of melodic rock. Magnum, Styx, Kansas and host of other top names all record music in a similar vein, City offering little if anything which sets their music apart from the rest.

The title track is a reflective rock anthem which mixes German and English lyrics, the instrumental passage being a typical melodic rock lead guitar affair. " Nachts in meinen Träumen" (Nights in my dreams) sees synth taking a more dominant role in the backing, the song being an atmospheric slice of Ultravox like 80's pop. "Pfefferminzhimmel" includes some wandering spoken word passages, here the mood is initially a bit like Dire Strait's "Private investigation". The chorus section though has a rather gooey soft pop flavour.

The upbeat "Noch´n Bier" is a blatant attempt to secure chart success, but the song is as instantly forgettable as it is prosaic. "z.B. Susann" appears to take part of its melody from the Boomtown Rats "I don't like Mondays" although the choruses differ. This is the nearest the entire album comes to anything prog, the song having a slightly more intricate arrangement to support a decent vocal performance. The album closes with a trio of shorter songs, each of which is a fairly enjoyable but quickly forgettable piece of light pop rock.

In all, while the performances here are highly competent, "Casablanca" has the feel of a band playing too far within themselves. The music is generally unambitious pop rock with nothing to distinguish it from the mob.