SECRETS OF ASTROLOGY

This is the first I have heard of Lana since she released her live album in 1998, although she has released more material in the intervening time. The first things that I noticed was that first of all she was not using Jacek Yerka to provide her artwork, and secondly that apart from Erik Norlander, The Rocket Scientists are no longer the core of her backing band. Lana has made a definite break with her past, and the music reflects this.

A lot of the music is much more rock based, with Lana taking a step away from the prog camp and much more into the mainstream AOR market. That is not to say that this is an overly commercial release, just that the edge has changed. In some ways it is a much more polished release than I have heard from him before, with favourite "Raining" proving yet again what a superb voice she has. It is a very complete album, and kicks off in a fine manner with a powering rock instrumental.

If you have never heard Lana before then this is a very good album to begin with, although to hear her at her best I would still point to the superb 'Live In Japan' with the awesome "Symphony Of Angels".

Originally appeared in Feedback #58