MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – Love & Beyond (2019) *HQ*
With the release of the new MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND excellent new album, some of you asked for their ‘comeback’ 2019 record “Love & Beyond” – a pure delight.
For this release Michael wanted to return to the polished AOR sound of the band’s 1989 debut, so once again teamed up with Wyn Davis to mix the album. Renowned songwriter and musician Mark Spiro is involved as well as appearing on vocals together with Larry King and Larry Antonino, who is best known for being the bass player in Unruly Child. Another member of that band, Guy Allison, appears on keyboards.
So this is pretty much the same team of that awesome debut, and let me tell you, at places, “Love & Beyond” is even better.
From the first bit of the properly titled instrumental ‘Opening’, you know you’re dealing with something ‘special’ here. The class, the pristine guitar tone, the talent.
“Love & Beyond” is a different listening experience from your usual AOR album; the CD has 18 tracks, but only 11 are actually vocal songs.
The album is bookended by Thompson guitar instrumentals, then interspersed with five more instrumental guitar interludes.
This creates a unique atmosphere.
Each of these short but excellent interlude-tracks are terrific.
And then you have the proper ‘songs’, the superb title track, the AOR heaven of ‘Save Yourself’, the sweet ‘Supersonic’, the elegant ‘Far Away’, the tp ballad ‘Flying Without Wings’ (sounds like a lost Bad English song), or the ecstasy of ‘Love Was Never Blind’ (the guitar work is out of this world) makes this album one of the best of the decade.
Yes folks, I am not exaggerating, “Love & Beyond” is a must have
01. Opening
02. Love & Beyond
03. Save Yourself
04. Passengers
05. Red Sun (Interlude)
06. Supersonic
07. La Perouse (Interlude)
08. Don’t Look Down
09. Far Away
10. Penny Laughed (Interlude)
11. Love Was Never Blind
12. Black Moon (Interlude)
13. Flying Without Wings
14. Forbidden City (Interlude)
15. Just Stardust
16. What Will I Be Without You
17. Starting Over
18. ‘Til We Meet Again
Guitars: Michael Thompson
Lead Vocals and bass: Larry Antonino
Lead vocals: Larry King, Mark Spiro
Drums: Sergio Gonzalez, Tim Pedersen
Keys: Guy Allison
BUY
www.amazon.de/Love-Beyond-Michael-Thompson-Band/dp/B07MWQCN9F
