BALTIMOORE – 1.1 [Limited Edition Digipak] (2015)

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One of the hardest working musicians in Sweden over the last three decades has to be Bjorn Lodin. With 12 albums under the BALTIMOORE banner, at least another 10 with him behind the mic for other acts and many more producer credits he’s become one of the most respected names in Scandi-rock history.
“1.1” is a just released 18-song CD covering the entire Baltimoore career, but all tracks heve been newly mixed and mastered – some songs are also newly recorded with the present line-up.

In spite of their pure Scandi AOR origin, now the group sounds much more contemporary and rocking, something already shown in Baltimoore’s last year album presented here on the blog.
The newest tracks featured on “1.1” are in this vein, although remixed in a more punchy palette.
What’s really fun to hear are the early Baltimoore AOR songs re-recorded with this new musical approach.
Tracks like the wonderful “My Blue Moon”, “Ballerina” or “In Love” have been re-worked and although now coming much more edgy, still retain that classy Scandinavian feel, updated to times.

On the opposite, “Memories Calling”, a cut from Baltimoore’s second CD (1990) received an acoustic treatment, resulting in a moody, bluesy compelling mid-tempo.
The re-mixed songs from the past still preserve the original studio multi-tracks recorded by likes of Ian Haugland (Europe – drums), Jamie Borger (Last Autumn’s Dream, Treat – drums), Mats Olausson (Yngwie – keys), Thomas Larsson (Glenn Hughes – guitars) and many more.

“1.1” is a very good showcase of Bjorn Lodin’s abilities as singer, composer & producer, and where his brainchild Baltimoore is stepped right now.
It’s hard to really say they sound like x and x, the band do have their own sound which is based on influences you may be able to call, but there’s firmly planted in the European hard rock field.
It’s a strong, solid collection of songs that takes some time to appreciate (you got 18 tracks and 75 min.) very well recorded, re-mixed and mastered. Very interesting, enigmatic album cover too (try to find what the picture hides).
This physical, digipak version is pretty limited and only sold in Scandinavia.

01 – Full Speed Ahead
02 – My Blue Moon
03 – Sunshine in the Rain
04 – In the Name of Love
05 – Wellaway
06 – How Sick Is Ok?
07 – Day to Come
08 – Kahlua Confusion
09 – To the Bone
10 – Say It Like It Is
11 – ‘Til the End of Day
12 – Little Bye
13 – Back for More
14 – Ballerina
15 – My Number One
16 – Cumgum
17 – In Love
18 – Memories Calling

Björn Lodin – vocals, guitar
Mats Attaque – guitar, backing vocals
Weine Johansson – bass
Mårten Ronsten – drums
Ian Haugland (Europe) – drums
Jamie Borger – (Last Autumn’s Dream, Treat) – drums
Mats Olausson (Yngwie) – keyboards
Nikolo Kotzev – guitars, keyboards
Thomas Larsson (Glenn Hughes) – guitars
Stefan Bergstrom (Alfonzetti) – guitars
and many more

BUY IT !
www.ginza.se/product/baltimoore/1-1-2015-digi-/445768/
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