‘Rise again little fighter, and let the world know the reason why’.
The songwriting partnership of Mike Tramp and Vito Bratta is exceptional and memorable and very close to my heart, the songs are easily accessible, enjoyable and setting a very high bar in AOR/Glam Rock. The heady days of big hair are re-visited and re-imagined highlighting a very special time in music history.
Opening with the rollicking ‘Lady Of The Valley’ just takes me right back to when I first heard these songs, I remember buying ‘Fight To Survive’ on cassette, it was an import only, costing the princely sum of £14.99, but hey, I just had to have it.
The voice is just as perfect as it always was, with age comes a maturity and wisdom, captured here, swoonsome and enrapturing.
You can tell the slight changes in key and tone, adding a different listening experience, respectfully arranged and in keeping with the integrity of the original work. The crème de la crème are featured here including ‘Wait’, ‘Tell Me’, ‘All The Fallen Men and ‘Hungry’, this record is for the ravenous, it will leave you fulfilled and satisfied and smiling from ear to ear.
Absolutely replete with glorious sunshine harmonies, it must have been incredibly difficult to choose twelve songs out of such a breath-taking and dignified back catalogue.
One of my personal favourites ‘El Salvador’ is missing, but hey I’m not going to let that spoil my fun listening to this snapshot of an illustrious time with White Lion.
The band that recorded this album are Marcus Nand – guitars, Claus Langeskov – bass, Alan Tschicaja – drums, Sebastian Groset – keyboards, Christoffer Stjerne – harmonies, all led impeccably by Mike Tramp.
We finish with the classic ballad ‘When The Children Cry’ oozing sadness and tears, as we think about how the world has not progressed at all. Here we are treated to a piano version, but still including that awesome riff, a proper ‘as my guitar gently weeps’ moment. We pray for the dawn of a new era, the emotive and heartfelt words ‘when the children sing then a new world begins’ is a sign of hope and optimism that we are turning a corner very soon.
Conjuring a wistful romanticism for days gone by, likened to a car engine gently idling, this is a record you take your time with, you relish each track, you reflect on what it meant to you then and you re-live that moment in the here and now.
With war songs, I am yours songs and begging on all fours songs, White Lion inject a special something into their songwriting that breaks your heart, and then soothes the fractured remains. Tell me baby, I’ll wait and we’ll be going home tonight, ‘sighs’ …..
Azra Pathan
Mike Tramp – Songs of White Lion out now.