Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Greg Lake & Geoff Downes
Label: Manticore
Released: 2015
Length: 32:05
Rating: 2.5/5
In the late 1980s, vocalist/bassist/guitarist Greg Lake (ex-King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and keyboardist Geoff Downes (ex-The Buggles, Asia, Yes) set out on a joint studio project called »Ride the Tiger«. They had first worked together back in 1983, when Lake briefly stood in for John Wetton on Asia’s tour of Asia. For »Ride the Tiger« they managed to write and record six new compositions, but before the project was finished and ever saw the light of day, both of them went back to their ‘home’ bands; Lake to ELP and Downes to Asia.
The »Ride the Tiger« project was never finished, and the individual tracks were long considered lost, with the exception of »Love Under Fire«, which Downes re-recorded for the Asia album »Aqua« (1992), while »Affairs of the Heart« and »Street Wars« ended up on the ELP album »Black Moon« (1992). So the two famous musicians were more than a little surprised when they recently found out that all the ‘lost’ tracks from the »Ride the Tiger« era had turned up together. »Check It Out« and »Blue Light« are available to Lake and Downes fans for the first time. Both musicians were probably a bit skeptical about the first official release of »Ride the Tiger«, especially because of the dubious sound quality, but once they realized the whole thing doesn’t sound all that bad, they gave the album’s release the ‘green light’ after all.
Stylistically, »Ride the Tiger« sounds like a mix of late ELP (the early-nineties version of the famous trio) and Asia, which means the whole thing is far from bad, even if it doesn’t contain a single truly thrilling moment and will only be of real interest to the most fiery ELP and Asia fans. At the same time, none of the compositions is stuck at some unfinished demo stage, so these are decently arranged pieces with a beginning and an end. Considering that Keith Emerson was one of Downes’ key keyboard role models, it’s no surprise that he and Lake clicked pretty well on every track. The energetic »Money Talks«, which was once released on one of Lake’s solo compilations, will thrill anyone who wants to hear his often overlooked exploits on electric guitar, while »Love Under Fire«, the best moment on »Ride the Tiger«, is very similar to the later Asia version with John Payne on lead vocals. The original version will go down best with those who still agree today that Lake was the best possible replacement for the similar-voiced Wetton as Asia’s singer.
Some will probably be bothered by the programmed drum machine standing in for a real drummer, since the rhythm of most tracks is pretty hollow, flat and sluggish, which is the main flaw of »Ride the Tiger«. You can hear it clearly on »Affairs of the Heart«, a typical Lake love ballad with pompous symphonic arrangements, the kind he already adored in the ELP days. The relatively punchy »Street Wars« wilts under the weight of melodic synth textures, which steers the album back into AOR waters. The rather average »Check It Out« and the solid »Blue Light« are also closer to pop rock than to prog rock, so, like the rest of the album, they don’t offer any artistic breakthrough.
»Ride the Tiger« is closer to an EP in length, since with the alternate version of »Love Under Fire« it holds barely over half an hour of music, so this is a historical release that will only delight the most devoted fans of both music icons. Despite its many shortcomings and the constant feeling of being unfinished, it’s still nice to see it get an official release after more than twenty-five years. Among other things, it offers a glimpse of what might have come out of a deeper collaboration between the two prog rock heavyweights. Even though Lake and Downes are exceptional musician icons, neither of their solo careers ever really blossomed, since they always preferred to be ‘team players’. Lake’s biggest solo success came in 1978, as a member of ELP, with the hit single »I Believe in Father Christmas«, which has since become one of the best-loved Christmas songs.
Line-up
Greg Lake – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Geoff Downes – keyboards
Production
Greg Lake & Geoff Downes
Track list
1. Money Talks
2. Love Under Fire
3. Affairs of the Heart
4. Street Wars
5. Check It Out
6. Blue Light
7. Love Under Fire (Alternate mix)
