HANSEL – Fluorescent Blue Lights (2014)
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HANSEL is an Australian five-piece that has been making some noise in the kangaroo land. After a successful debut album, the band participated on the TV show ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ during 2011, making it as far as the semi-finals.
They briefly broke-up for some months, but now are returning stronger than before with the EP “Fluorescent Blue Lights”, a pure ’80s glam / hair metal collection of songs.
Hansel’s ‘spandex’ hard rock is absolutely influenced by the L.A. Strip Scene with choruses and riffs akin Poison, Eighties Kiss, Motley Crue, etc, but they also add strong doses of keyboards to many songs turning their sound more European in the vein of Wig Wam or Crazy Lixx.
“Hansel Says It’s Time To Rock” opens in an anthemic way. Indeed is a hymn clocking mere 2 and half minute ready for opening a show at a big arena. Next, title track “Fluorescent Blue Lights” rocks with energy over a sharp double guitar attack, followed by the street dirty hard rock of “Running On Adrenaline” plenty of gang-like choruses. Despite their powerful delivery, Hansel’s sound is really polished.
“Stop” is one of the band’s songs with an Euro approach, very close to Euro Melodic Hard Rock with commercial verses and keyboards infusions. It’s one of my favorite tracks from the band where they expand their musicality.
Then with “Sweet Desperation” the guys go for a bluesy, acoustically filled ballad with a Tesla – and perhaps Skid Row – feel. It’s a dusty, lovable slow tune.
Hansel is a fun, energetic, glam-tastic combo which proves with “Fluorescent Blue Lights” that there’s much more Rock music in Down Under than AC-DC.
Together with White Widdow they are keeping the ’80s Melodic Hard Rock flame alive & kicking in Australia, and they have a strong international potential. If you have a doubt about it, also check Hansel’s previous album also included here, and then tell me.
Recommended.
01 – Hansel Says It’s Time To Rock
02 – Fluorescent Blue Lights
03 – Running On Adrenaline
04 – Stop
05 – Sweet Desperation
01 – I Don’t Need Saving (All I Need Is Rock ‘n Roll)
02 – Eruption
03 – Rock City
04 – On The Run
05 – Wild Tonight
06 – Rocketship of Love
07 – Between a Rock and a Hard Place
08 – Vampire
09 – Murder 101
10 – 1-800-Pleasuretown
11 – The Whole Nine Yards
Jett Jones – vocals
Thruster Jones – guitar
Grind – guitar
Joey X-Kalibre – bass
Snake – drums
BUY IT !
itunes.apple.com/au/album/fluorescent-blue-lights-ep/id815059063
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