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Gabrielle de Val: Kiss In A Dragon Night
Gabrielle de Val - Kiss In A Dragon Night Album Art

Gabrielle de Val: Kiss In A Dragon Night

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
4.5/5.0

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Escape Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 14.02.2023 | Released: 17.02.2023

Spanish vocalist Gabrielle de Val's career dated back to the late Seventies when she formed her first band, Yin-Yang, which would evolve to D'Val. Despite recording various demos, the band disappeared. Ms de Val would continue to write music, record, and do voice-over work. Then in 2010, she and band members would return as The Val, releasing their long-awaited debut, Back, a year later. Two more albums would follow with various and many touring opportunities within their native Spain and throughout the UK and Europe.

Gabrielle de Val Click For Larger Image

Gabrielle de Val

Now, via Escape Music, Ms de Val returns to release her first solo album, Kiss In A Dragon Night. If you know Escape Music's history and reputation, then you also know that de Val will have been offered exceptional songwriting which, in turn, is backed up by exceptional musicianship.Kiss In A Dragon Night is no exception. The vocalist is partnered with some fine male vocalists: Robin McAuley, Mark Boals, Mick Devine, Terry Brock, and Steve Overland. Additional musicians include a who's who of the melodic rock genre including, to name a few, Steve Morris, Tommy Denander, Steve Mann, Eric Ragno, and Frederik Folkare (who also mixed and mastered the album). As for de Val, she's an exceptional vocal talent in her own right. She sings melodic, easily carrying song melody and harmony. If I could suggest some stylistic vocal comparisons, Ms de Val would remind of Robin Beck or Lana Lane.


Casting no aspersions to her vocal talent, but the quality of the songs and musicianship make de Val sound terrific. The duets are surprisingly complimentary to her vocal style with nods to When Midnight Comes with Mark Boals, Natural High with Steve Overland, and the Magnum cover, Stayin' Alive featuring Terry Brock. Another cover song includes Mike Oldfield's Moonlight Shadow from 1983's Crises, his most popular album of the period. A personal favorite, de Val had wished to make her own recording of the song. She has and you will find it quite enjoyable. Some other notable songs, more hard rockers, include Fuel To The Fire, Take On The World, and Let's Get Something Started (the guitar solo kills). De Val can be as smooth as an AOR vocalist, but with these songs, she proves she can rock out with the best.

All in all, with Kiss In A Dragon Night, we discover Spanish vocalist Gabrielle de Val, offering fans some strong and entertaining AOR melodic hard rock, led by her exceptional voice and backed up by immense talent from the genre. Easily recommended.



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The Take Away

With Kiss In A Dragon Night, we discover Spanish vocalist Gabrielle de Val, offering fans some strong and entertaining AOR melodic hard rock, led by her exceptional voice and backed up by immense talent from the genre. Easily recommended.

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