LANE LANE – El Dorado Hotel
- Posted on 13-02-2012
Man, using one of those computer like vocal pop effects that is reserved for T-Pain on certain verses of “Believe” and “Moon God” made me almost delete “El Dorado Hotel” from my computer on first exposure. Teaming again with her husband/ keyboardist Erik Norlander, this symphonic rock lady comes out with another 10 song effort that is versatile in its songwriting approach and performance aspects. “In Exile” is an 11:40 progressive rock number, giving the musicians a chance to flex their instrumental skills, while “Darkness Falls” has more of a gothic meets Irish folk feel. The title cut gives you the softer, gentler side of Lana with a ballad more in the 70’s Styx vein.
Supplementing the sound for Lana Lane this time are John Payne (ex-Asia), Bruce Bouillet (Racer X), and Jay Schellen (Asia) among the numerous guitarists, bassists, and drummers who flesh out the music components. “El Dorado Hotel” probably is one of Lana Lane’s closest looks at modern elements to her established sound- and I think this could be a fence sitter with many that have followed her for years. Lana has such a majestic, powerful range that she doesn’t need to succumb to any computer-laden tricks vocally that may gain a couple of youngsters at the expense of hundreds of original fans.
As a result, “El Dorado Hotel” is a slightly above average effort that could have been so much more if Erik and Lana stuck to their conventional guns.