April '98

ZENO
LISTEN TO THE LIGHT
ZERO XRCN-2019
42%

Zeno showcased a very fine AOR style on their debut album and their second ("Zenology") continued the formula, however the style is starting to wear a little thing on this their third outing. Sure there are a few numbers worthy of appearing on the earlier albums, ("Love In Your Eyes" in particular, but then it was originally destined for the unreleased second album in 87/88) but overall there is a lack of progression here, which would be forgivable if the standard of songwriting was better. Generic power ballads are the worst offenders and a track like "I Would Die For You" is cringingly like an Eastern European entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Guitarist Zeno Roth is in good form (check out his solo on "Follow The Wind") but Michael Flexig's performance largely lacks his previous sparkle. Things wouldn't be so bad if the songs were generic but done with more passion and energy, like Fair Warning - sadly they aren't. Fellow Germans Fair Warning may have been born from the ashes of a Zeno lineup, prior to "Zenology", but over their three albums they have managed to move from a baby Zeno to a fully grown band in their own right by adding to the foundations laid by Roth, although even they are overdue a new angle. I still feel that Roth and Flexig have something to offer the AOR world but with songwriting like this "Listen To The Light" is not it. Disappointing.

LIZETTE
FINE BY ME
EDELPITCH/BMG EDP 52542
56%

This is Lizette's first album to follow a "rock" path. The results are very impressive, the Swedish singer blends together pop, and modern rock with a few touches of country here and there (but thankfully not too overdone). Imagine Tone Norum doing a cross between Meredith Brooks and Sheryl Crow and you'll be in the right ballpark. The music seems to have a poppy AOR foundation with the various other, more modern, elements subtly placed to give a good sense of variety throughout the album. Lizette has a fine voice, equally at home during ballads as on the more upbeat numbers. Standout tracks are the upbeat "Stand By Your Dream" and "Sky High" and the sultry "I'll Never Take You Back". Well worth looking around for.

MOSCOW RILEY
EAT THE AMMUNITION
PROACTIVE PROCD2011002
42%

Since the beginning of 1997 I think I have only bought around a dozen "prog rock" associated albums (half of them being Marillion related titles). So as someone who has become increasingly "tired of the same old progressive clichés" I guess, according to their biog, I am among Moscow Riley's main target audience. To be honest though Moscow Riley don't offer all that much in the way of innovation either, sure there are a few modern sounding guitar parts thrown in here and there, but for the main part this is pretty much business as usual. They may be musically tougher than Summer Indoors (from whom a couple of members originate) but, to me at least, all the usual prog clichés are there. I also found the vocals of Chris Dempsey a bit on the boring side, competent but characterless. However there are a few rays of hope, "Work Experience" does begin with a great modern sounding riff (reminded me of The Wildhearts!) before alternating with less radical verse/chorus prog structures. "Bungeedik" also has a strong modern riff based structure, with a big dirty guitar sound. Promising moments. If you ignore the claims of innovation the album does offer a solid set of standard prog rock and should go down well enough with prog stalwarts.

"Eat The Ammunition" is available direct from ProActive for £9.99 (UK), £10.99 (Europe) and £11.99 (ROW), cheques and IMOs to "ProActive Records Ltd.".
Contact: ProActive Records Ltd., 8 Arnold Mansions, Queen's Club Gardens, London, W14 9RD, UK

Email: ProActi100@aol.com
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