NIGHT RANGER – 40 Years and a Night with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra

I am incredibly fond of Night Ranger and their (mostly) stellar musical outputs, and it is always exciting to receive one of their records for review. This latest one is rather special and a welcome addition to their discography in that it adds an extra dimension to some of their most well-known and classic songs. For their 40^th anniversary these US hard rockers came up with the idea of performing a live gig accompanied by the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, and the resulting disc is definitely a success and a rather accomplished affair. Rock and metal outfits teaming up with orchestras and ensembles and whatnot is hardly anything new or innovative as such, but Night Ranger pull it off better and more confidently than most. Not only is everyone bringing their A game to the entire performance, but the orchestra infuses the material with countless interesting layers, textures, and atmospherics without ever sounding or feeling intrusive, which entails that the two entities compliment each other throughout as opposed to pulling in different directions or the orchestra appearing like a superfluous add-on. With a solid production that brings enough clarity to every instrument and conjures up a warm, appealing aura, this is a proper musical treat and ‘High Road’ and the 10-minute version of ‘Night Ranger’ in particular are superbly executed. Also, the DVD makes for a great watch and the behind-the-scenes footage from the rehearsals in Cleveland is excellent.