LIFE (Robin George) – Cocoon [remastered reissue +6] (2023) *HQ*

When renowned guitarist, vocalist and producer ROBIN GEORGE steps out from the booth, straps on a guitar, and steps up to the mike, you know you’re in for some serious rocking. And ”Cocoon”, the one and only album by his 1990s band LIFE, does not disappoint.
George and former Diamond Head vocalist Nick Tart schemed LIFE in the mid-’90s, recording an album that was slick, balls-out, and commercial in a very, very good way — glam-tinged metal colliding with straight-ahead hard rock, then tempered with a classic rock sound.
”Cocoon” was originally released in 1997 by legendary Now & Then Records (one of the few label whom saved melodic hard rock in the Nineties) and after many years out of print, the album was fully remastered by Robin George in 2010, packed with bonus tracks, and re-released with a different cover art.
Now ”Cocoon” has a third chance by a re-release of that remastered version for all George and melodic rock fans rejoice.
The overall sound on here is like George’s excellent ‘Dangerous Music’ album, namely big choruses, lots of vocals and plenty of tasty guitar playing. In fact, there’s a re-recording of that classic ’80s tune ‘Dangerous Music’ in the track list.

”Cocoon” is very much a primer to George’s long career, dipping into the vast canon of songs he had written in the past, and allowing Tart to add his own imprimatur to the best of them. So if any of the titles here seem familiar — from a Robert Plant album, maybe, or Glenn Hughes or Ruby Turner — that’s why. But the déjà vu ends there.
Tart’s so-distinctive vocals – if you need some comparison, think an early day John Waite – allow each track to take on a whole new life, while George is at his searing best throughout.

As to be expected from anything that is done by Robin George, we find really good songwriting, high quality, well written melodic hard / AOR tracks. ‘The Language Of Love’, ‘Freeride, ‘Good Times’ and of course ‘Dangerous Music’ are among the highlights, but all are enjoyable.
The remastering itself was done by Robin, and his usual flair for melody is evident once again with a great, crisp sound that really brings the album into the modern day.
Highly Recommended

01 – Dangerous Music
02 – The Language Of Love
03 – The American Way
04 – Cocoon (Bonus Track)
05 – Freeride (Bonus Track)
06 – Don’t Come Crying (Bonus Track)
07 – Oxygen
08 – What Goes Around Comes Around (Bonus Track)
09 – Good Times (Bonus Track)
10 – Losing You
11 – I Believed In You
12 – Rush (Bonus Track)
13 – Judy
14 – Let It Burn
15 – The End Of The Line

Guitar, Vocals – Robin George
Vocals – Nick Tart
Bass – Adam Charlesworth
Drums – Bill Devey
Keyboards – Fred Skidmore
Backing Vocals – Jackie Graham, Mo Birch, Ruby Turner

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