TANGIER – Stranded [Wounded Bird Records WOU 9160]

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As requested, here’s TANGIER third and final album, 1991’s “Stranded“. This Wounded Bird Records reissue is out of print, with used CD copies being sold for $200.
Tangier released three albums with different line-ups, slightly different musical styles, and all are goodies. Their sound gradually evolved until they became a fairly impressive bluesy melodic hard rock band, sounding a lot like Tyketto at times.
After their previous album ‘Four Winds’, singer Bill Mattson quit, with the very good Mike Le Compt taking over vocal duties and the band contracting to a four-piece in the process.
Produced, engineered and mixed by the late John Purdell (Quiet Riot, Britny Fox, Ozzy Osbourne) together with Duane Baron delivering that awesomely polished, glossy American-1991 sound, ”Stranded” emerged in 1991 and saw the band diversifying their approach and toughening their act.
The hybrid of melodic hard / bluesy groove feels like late ’80s Whitesnake as well (‘You’re Not The Lovin’ Kind’, ‘Caution To The Wind’) producing radio-friendly material with memorable choruses and slick playing from all involved.

There’s spirited hard rockin’ tracks such as ‘Exited’, ‘Back in the Limelight’, ‘Down the Line’, and the mid-paced ‘Takes Just A Little Time’ which somehow reminds of House Of Lords second album. The title track adds atmospherics with a blazing AOR sound akin Tyketto.
You can’t go wrong with TANGIER’s “Stranded”, an underrated early ’90s sounding U.S melodic hard rock LP with a bluesy touch and strong songwriting.
Highly Recommended

01 – Down The Line
02 – Caution To The Wind
03 – You’re Not The Lovin’ Kind
04 – Since You Been Gone
05 – Takes Just A Little Time
06 – Excited
07 – Back In The Limelight
08 – Stranded
09 – It’s Hard
10 – If Ya Can’t Find Love

Mike LeCompt – Vocals, Guitar
Doug Gordon – Guitar, Vocals
John Purdell – Keyboards
Bobby Bender – Drums

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www.amazon.com/Stranded-Tangier/dp/B000YPMQA8/