VALENTINE (Robby) – Androgenius Past [reissue 2018]

To support his comeback to touring, some years ago Robby VALENTINE put out “Androgrenius“, a two CD release subtitled ‘Past’ and ‘Future’. The past decade, after a break Robby Valentine returned with the album The Most Beautiful Pain, a very diverse record. Still heavily influenced by Queen but also many different other styles of music even including the theme to Back To The Future. A year later Falling Down In Misanthropolis was released, a much darker sounding album,. Sadly this album was also only released in Japan so the market in Europe was deprived of a good album.
So “Androgrenius” is a compilation album which leans heavily on these last two albums plus new recordings, originally only available from his website and concerts. Now it’s available world wide with this 2018 reissue.

When Robby Valentine created this compilation album he did not just grab a bunch of songs to be scattered in random order on some shiny discs.
This disc called ‘Past’ and is more of a retrospective journey through time with personal favourites from his entire discography. Some of the older songs have been re-recorded so that they blend in better with the modern songs.

The album starts with the theme to ‘Back To The Future’, followed by ‘The Magic Breeze’ in a re-recorded version. There’s also a new take on ‘I Believe In You’, one of my favorite Robby songs.
‘Over And Over Again’ has been re-recorded for this disc this time faithful to the original. The other disc (Future), includes as well a re-recording of the song, but much more modern and darker.

The there are two songs that give me the need to do aerobics exercises, ‘What In The World I’m Waiting For’ and ‘Rock Me Like A Hurricane’ make me jump around just like Robby does live.
‘Visionary Victim’, is very, very Queen inspired, a band Robby loves.

Robby Valentine is a very diverse artist and Androgenius sure shows that. This ‘Past’ CD re-visits Valentine’s early melodic rock sounds and the piano rock ballads, a big part (of the past) of Dutch artist history. Maybe not progressive enough and maybe a bit too much glamour for some, but Valentine offers more than a standard rock sound. His albums always have been quite hard to purchase, so this reissue is very welcomed.
Highly Recommended

01 – Back to the Future Theme
02 – The Magic Breeze (2008)
03 – What in the World I’m Waiting For
04 – Over and over Again (2008)
05 – No Turning Back (2008)
06 – Dear Dad
07 – She (Abandoned Heart)
08 – Just a Dream (Someone Sold the World)
09 – I Believe in Music
10 – The Cold and Lonely Lie
11 – Visionary Victim
12 – The Way to Get Home
13 – Believing Is Seeing
14 – Rock Me Like a Hurricane
15 – I Believe in You (2008)
16 – Rise and Shine (The Victory Anthem)

Keyboards, Backing Vocals [The Valentine Band] – Johan ‘Jay-Jay’ Willems
Bass [The Valentine Band] – Liselotte ‘Lilo’ Hegt
Drums [The Valentine Band] – André Borgman
Drums – Juan Van Emmerloot, Matt Butler
Guitar, Violin [Violtar], Backing Vocals– Cyril Whistler
Harmony Vocals – Johan Willems, Valensia Clarkson
Drums & Piano – Hans van Vondelen
Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Piano, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Sampler, Programmed By, Percussion – Robby Valentine

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Androgenius-Past-Valentine/dp/B07BYHQPVF
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