Perhaps the best female fronted AOR / Melodic Rock act ever originated from Norway, BLONDE ON BLONDE‘s debut CD “Labyrinth Of Love“ has been remastered by Tony Ubler from YesterRock headquarters, a reissue including a bonus track.
This is the first album from the band originally released by small local label Blazing Records. Due to its success, they were signed by EMI Norway with the suggestion to change their name to PERFECT CRIME. The band flew to England to be produced by ex- Whitesnake Bernie Marsden for their second album titled as their previous moniker; “Blonde On Blonde”.
A bit confusing, but in short, BLONDE ON BLONDE are the same band later re-branded PERFECT CRIME.
Founded in 1987 in Trondheim, Norway, BLONDE ON BLONDE were fronted the the two – hence their name – blonde singers Chris Candy and Bente Smaavik (Charming Grace, Four Jets), along with Jimmy Iversen (Jorn Lande Band) on guitars, drummer Willy Bendiksen (Jorn Lande, The Snakes, Wild Willy’s Gang), bass player Steinar Eikum (ex- TNT), and Roger Gilton on keyboards / synths.
With a classic Scandinavian melodic rock sound from the second half of the ’80s, “Labyrinth Of Love” is rich in soaring melodies, varied vocal harmonies – having two excellent vocalists is a plus – crunchy guitars and lovely keys.
But there’s also an American feeling in the compositions akin Saraya or Cindy Cruse.
Among the highlights we find the commercial single ‘Sail Away’ (which 7” B-side ‘Miss You’ is included here as bonus track), the AORish ‘Show Your Love ‘ (I found it similar to Vixen), midtempo ‘No One Like You’, the elegant ballad ‘Shine On’, and title track ‘Labyrinth of Love’, a pumping melodic rocker reminiscent of Tone Norum.
You can’t go wrong with BLONDE ON BLONDE’s debut “Labyrinth Of Love” (recorded 1988): it packs all the feeling and atmosphere of classic female-fronted Melodic Rock / AOR from the era, with top class vocals / musicianship.
While the YesterRock logo is not stamped in the booklet due to legal reasons, this is a pristine remaster from them handled as usually by Tony Übler.
HIGHLY Recommended
1 Give Love A Break 3:21
2 No One Like You 4:04
3 Shine On 4:25
4 Love Me Or Leave Me 4:04
5 Sail Away 3:35
6 Show Your Love 3:44
7 Labyrith Of Love 4:21
8 Am I Right? 4:07
9 Take Me As I Am 3:21
10 Weekend Hero 3:51
11 Miss You 3:58
Backing Vocals – Per Kristian Indrehus, Tomas Siqveland
Bass – Steinar Eikum
Drums – Willy Bendiksen
Engineer – Christian Schreiner, Geir Olav Bøkestad, Rex Gisslen*
Guitar, Written-By – Jimmy Iversen
Keyboards – Roger Gilton
Producer – Blonde On Blonde (3), Tomas Siqveland
Remastered By – Tony Übler*
Vocals – Bente Smaavik, Chris Candy
Written-By – Steinar Eikum (tracks: 1 to 9)
Track 11 is a bonus track
Blonde On Blonde – Labyrinth Of Love 2008 [Yesterrock / NL remaster] w/ bonus track, MP3+FLAC
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