Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Houston
Label: Spinefarm Records
Release: 2011
Length: 41:14
Rating: 3/5
Well, the Lord works in mysterious ways. Among today’s flood of new bands, a prime example of hugely successful revivalism is the Swedish melodic AOR rock outfit Houston. Not Boston, Houston. From the logo to the covers to the band name, all of it, before you even hear a note, takes you straight back to the eighties. The success of the promising self-titled debut from 2010, which, given some of its clichés, was almost overrated by music critics, gave the band wings to put out an EP in the gap before the next studio album, one meant to ease the impatient wait for the new Houston record among all the starving fans of classic eighties AOR sounds.
Melodic rock is coming back. That’s undeniable! Trends in Western Europe, Scandinavia, the US, Canada and Australia have been pointing to it for a while (not in Slovenia, of course). Houston, the Swedish duo of vocalist Hampus ‘Hank’ Erix and drummer Freddie Allen, picked an interesting set of songs for this EP. It has six covers of classic AOR anthems, one brand-new Houston song (Without Your Love) and two newly reworked (acoustic) versions of Houston songs that appeared on the debut “Houston” (2010). The covers the duo chose for this EP aren’t heard very often anymore when the talk turns to AOR anthems. What’s more, the memory of them has almost faded. Let’s just say this obscure set of songs is basically the duo’s cherry-picked selection, and that’s the main plus of this release.
They did the job boldly! At least as far as the performance of the covers goes, which stay extremely close to the originals. Of course, the production keeps the sound of the studio debut for this EP too, while a slightly different vocal color and different vocal harmonies naturally add the band’s recognizable touch. But given Hampus’s vocal characteristics, there’s no worry that the authenticity of that typical AOR charm would be affected on the EP in any way, let alone lost.
The duo invited a seasoned former Touch member, keyboardist Mark Mangold, who has also worked in the past with Michael Bolton and Laura Branigan. All three acts mentioned above get a tribute from Houston on this EP, in covers of their studio originals Don’t You Know What Love Is (Touch), Carrie (Michael Bolton) and Didn’t We Almost Win It All (Laura Branigan). Mangold has the sonic structures of authentic eighties keyboard arrangements at his fingertips, and there’s nothing to fault in the new versions. Also on board is the experienced Laurie Mansworth (ex-More, ex-Roadstar), who laid down the guitar lines, solos included, just right. The most interesting songs on this EP are the first four. The opener Runaway, originally by Dakota, simply stuns with how closely the chorus melodies track the original. Houston’s ambition is also confirmed by the nicely “laid down” and well-executed Carrie (orig. Michael Bolton), and right after it by the Airrace classic Brief Encounter and Don’t Ever Wanna Lose You (orig. New England). The rest is no longer as interesting and, especially in the closing stretches, gets annoying through overdone repetition of the chorus melodies. That goes above all for all three original songs, which not even guest vocals from Amaranthe singer Elize Ryd can lift out of the blandness.
Judging by the second half of the EP, you could say this release is half its running time too long. And yet. From the standpoint of die-hard AOR fans, who are used to carefree consumption of even the most syrupy-sweet ballad witchcraft, with an avalanche of mawkish weeping wafting off it from a distance, there’s no reason to complain. As a release meant to ease the wait for the new album among Houston fans, this EP is a very effective move, but a completely optional one. Its quality lies mainly in the first four covers, in which Houston prove their brilliant knack for reviving the spirit and character of classic eighties AOR sounds, while the remaining 20 minutes of the EP will, on listening, keep busy mainly the most hardened AOR devotees.
Lineup
Hampus Hank Erix – vocals
Freddie Allain – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Laurie Mansworth – guitar
Mark Mangold – keyboards, backing vocals
Eliz Ryd – vocals
Production
Ricky Delin
Track list
1. Runaway
2. Carrie
3. Brief Encounter
4. Don’t You Know What Love Is
5. Don’t Ever Wanna Lose You
6. Didn’t We Almost Win It All
7. Without Your Love
8. Truth Slips*
9. 1000 Songs*
*….acoustic versions
