| CD REVIEW Chris Laney |
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Band: Chris Laney Chris Laney is a Swedish recording engineer/ producer & composer/ guitarist who’s been in the music business since his early teens! Started playing in bands and touring from the age of 13. As a musician, he also plays piano, drums and other instruments, but it’s the guitar which became his closest friend. He’s endorsed by Motoby Guitars (for whom he’s even designed two own models) and Kulik Design amplifiers. As an engineer/ producer he works for the world-famous Polar Studios (once started by members of Abba). Behind the knobs he’s worked with the likes of Candlemass, Europe, Easy Action, Brian Robertson and Bruce Kulick (to name but the most resounding collaborations), and received two Swedish Grammy awards for his work (having received 7 more nominations). As a guitarist the man has tenures with Randy Piper’s Animal (with whom he already recorded two albums) and Zan Clan (one CD and one DVD). The material on Pure was co-written between Laney and Bruce Kulick, Lennart Östlund (current owner of Polar Studios, and also co-producer on the album – as a musician he added purcussion and some more guitars), Mats Levén, and others. Being active as a producer of course makes it easy for one to have quite a few friends in the business, and Laney therefore could depend on some of those to come help him out…not only as the backbone of his recording band (bassist Nalle “Grizzly” Pählsson of Treat, Animal, and Zan Clan repute; drummer Johan Koleberg, also of Animal and Zan Clan, and formerly of Lion’s Share), but also in a guesting capacity! Thus you get the likes of Vic Zino (of Hardcore Superstar) playing a guitar solo on album opening track “Situation”, Rob Love (Zan Clan, Dynazty) and John Saphyre doin’ the same on “Make You Cry”, Martin Sweet (Crashdiet) on “Fire And Ice”, Anders Ringman on “Get U Down” (to which he also brings backing vocals), and eventually Nick Draglor on “Last Man Standing”…while Zinny Zan (also Zan Clan, and of Easy Action and Shotgun Messiah fame) brings lead and backing vocals to “I Hate Yer Guts”, and Mats Levén (renowned session vocalist, also of Yngwie Malmsteen and Therion repute) bringing backing vocals to “Make My Day”. Leaving only 4 songs on which he did nót have a guest! From a production/ sound point of view, everything is of course perfect…or what else would you have expected with two people from such a renowned studio?…with a nice thick/ slick sound. Technically speaking, you get music written by people who’ve been in the business for years, so there’s been attention for both catchy riffs and the necessary lead/ solo guitar work. However, the slick/ thick sound displayed on this album kinda clashes with the overal musical direction the music has. Because we’re talking Glam Rock/ Metal with the occasional Sleeze touch in the lyrics here, baby! I’m not saying it doesn’t quite agree, but somehow one expects a rougher sound with this style of music…see what I mean? Luckily the producers didn’t exagerate the harmonisation of the backing vocals too much, or things would’ve been completely out of sink! Of course there had to be a ballad, or balladesque in this case, song on the album, which comes with the beautiful piano adorned “Skin On Skin”! In other words, a very nice album for those who’d like to hear a Sleeze Glam band with a véry decent production and sound! If you fall in that category (or happen to be a hormone filled youngster on the prowl) check out the song samples posted at myspace.com/chrislaney. Last news: Laney has been looking forward to bringing forward some of his songs in a live environment, and has therefore been rehearsing with Rob Love and his Dynazty mates John Berg (both playing guitar and bringing backing vocals – I wonder, this wouldn’t by any chance be that John Saphyre that collaborated to the album, now would it?) and George Egg (drums), plus Babylon Rocks bassist Marty Bomb. In fact, by the time you’ll read this, the first Stockholm gig has already passed! At the moment, only some Swedish dates are announced, so don’t get your hopes up too high about seeing this three-guitar band play in your neighbourhood pretty soon. After all, the main character of this band still has his duties as a producer to think about…but bug him steadily enough at his own website chrislaney.com or MySpace page and who knows…?!!! 82/100 Tony. |