HOUSTON – Relaunch (2011)

Golden Swedes HOUSTON are releasing “Relaunch”, a new album covering classic AOR songs.Produced – as with the ‘Houston’ debut – by AOR connoisseur Ricky Delin, includes one new original track (written by Delin) plus two bonus acoustic tracks recently recorded.
Says Houston drummer & core member, Freddie Allen:
“This year has been so great for Houston, with the first album getting so much recognition, so we just wanted to show everyone where we come from musically. ‘Relaunch’ is a way of paying tribute to our heroes, whilst at the same time updating today’s audience on the classic AOR songs we have loved for so long.

The Michael Bolton composition ‘Carrie’ was a track we felt has been somewhat overlooked through the years, and the same with the Laura Branigan ballad, ‘Didn’t We Almost Win It All’.

Meanwhile, ‘Runaway’, the opening track, by Dakota, is a genuinely classic song, and that’s also true of Airrace’s ‘Brief Encounter’.

To top it all off, our producer Ricky Delin wrote a new song called ‘Without Your Love’, and the mini-album also includes acoustic versions of two of the debut album’s songs, which we recorded in London back in March.

We sincerely hope you will enjoy this record as much as we do!”
Just wait to listen their awesome version of “Carrie”, the great song criminally underrated between AOR circles, or the driven take on Airrace’s “Brief Encounter”, my favorites here.
“Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya” remains as one of my top songs ever. Houston version is more modernized and spacey, with a big guitar solo. Really good.

A surprise (a good one) is to find Laura Branigan’s “Didn’t We Almost Win It All”, beautiful ballad covered with Houston’s elegant touches, they excel on these kind tunes.
Another perennial top classic song is “Runaway”, nicely arranged here.

I am a sucker for everything recorded by Houston, and “Relaunch” is not the exception.
This magic duo has the melodies, the talent and that ‘special touch’ necessary to be elegant and different into the AOR genre.
Highly Recommended

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

1) Runaway (originally recorded by US AORsters Dakota)

2) Carrie (originally recorded by Michael Bolton)

3) Brief Encounter (originally recorded by UK melodic maestros Airrace and featuring Airrace’s Laurie Mansworth on guest guitar)

4) Don’t You Know What Love Is (originally recorded by US outfit Touch, the first band ever to play the Monsters Of Rock festival, and featuring Touch’s keyboard player Mark Mangold on guest vox)

5) Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya (originally recorded by US Pompsters New England, whose self-titled debut album was produced by Kiss’ Paul Stanley)

6) Didn’t We Almost Win It All (originally recorded by the late Laura Branigan)

7) Without Your Love (New 2011 song written by Ricky Delin; a duet with Amaranthe front-woman Elize Ryd)

8) Truth Slips (New 2011 acoustic recording)

9) 1000 Songs (New 2011 acoustic recording)

Hampus ‘Hank’ Erix – Lead Vocals

Freddie Allen – Drums

Laurie Mansworth – guest guitar

Mark Mangold – guest keyboards, backing vocals

Elize Ryd – guest vocals

BUY

www.amazon.com/Relaunch-Houston/dp/B005S0NFO0