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Lana Lane: Neptune Blue
Lana Lane - Neptune Blue Album Art

Lana Lane: Neptune Blue

Melodic Progressive Rock/AOR
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 26.01.2022 | Released: 28.01.2022

I had to check my review archives. Yes, vocalist Lana Lane has not released a solo studio album since 2012's El Dorado Hotel, a superb album with one of her best songs, the sensational and beguiling Hotels. So what has this versatile vocalist been doing for the past 10 years, besides preventing her husband composer and keyboard player Erik Norlander from buying more keyboards and adding a new addition to the house for them. Well, she's appeared on the Rocket Scientists' 2014 release Refuel and husband's studio effort, 2016's Surreal.

Lana Lane - Click For Larger Image

Lana Lane

Now Ms Lane returns with a new solo project, Neptune Blue which, of course, offers a platter of tunes composed with Erik Norlander. The album also arrives with some superb guest musicians from the melodic and progressive rock scene including Jeff Kollman, Mark McCrite, Greg Ellis, and John Payne, all friends of Lane and Norlander.

As for the songs, the music is typically melodic hard rock with AOR and prog influence with, of course, Ms Lane's voice at the forefront. With most compositions from Norlander's hand, you can also expect the songs to have a significant synth presence and a symphonic texture. Much like her previous album, Neptune Blue offers a variety of songs with different musical emphasis. You'll find some upbeat, sometimes heavier, melodic rock with Far From Home, Miss California, and Remember Me. More on the AORish side are Really Actually and Don't Disturb The Occupants, the shortest most compact song with some strong bass work. (That bass work is a standout element in many songs across this album.) A few songs I found a more interesting, perhaps eclectic, twist upon the mix. Bring It On Home had this curious mix of bluesy and psych guitar work. Someone Like You most definitely turns on a blues groove with Lane sounding both soulful and dreamy. But my immediate thought, or question, about this album was simply, Is there another song as significant as Hotels. Not so much, but the closing title cut, Neptune Blue, moves almost entirely on the vocal arrangement making Ms Lane the star once more. All said, Lane Lane's Neptune Blue is another fine, creative, and entertaining album of AOR melodic rock from this consummate and talented singer. Easily recommended.




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The Take Away

Lane Lane's Neptune Blue is another fine, creative, and entertaining album of AOR melodic rock from this consummate and talented singer. Easily recommended.

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