SECRETS OF ASTROLOGY

"Stars align in perfect order"

In many ways, Secrets Of Astrology was the culmination of everything Lana Lane had done up to that point. They had done several excellent albums before, but here everything fell into place and surpassed even the past successes. They opted for a more heavy/hard edged approach on some songs here, often reminding me of the most progressive moments of Rainbow (Rising). Erik Norlander uses his broad palette of keyboards from Jon Lord-like Hammond organ, through Rick Wakeman/Keith Emerson-like synthesizer wizardry, to Vangelis-like electronica. The lead guitars are equally dazzling. And Lana herself shines like a female Ronnie James Dio.

The album opens with the majestic Astrology Suite (Astrology Prelude + the title track) which is simply a masterpiece of full-blown progressive Rock/Metal. This is clearly one of the band's very best pieces of music and an eternal live favourite. Some lovely yet powerful symphonic Rock ballads follow before a return to Metal on the fast-paced (naturally) Speed Of Sound. The folky/Neo-Classical Tarot is again very much in the Ritchie Blackmore-mood; somewhere in the middle between Dio-era Rainbow and Blackmore's Night (the kind of music that Blackmore's Night should be doing!) Asherah is another heavy number with some great Kansas-like violin/keyboards duelling. Guardian Angel is another great piece of Symphonic Rock. Like on most of the band's album, the album closer is an instrumental repeating some earlier themes from the album including the opening, bookending the album perfectly.

A masterpiece!

Secrets of astrology is fifth studio album of this excellent female singer Lana Lane, released in 2000 and is by far my fav album from her and one of my fav albums in general. Here almost went perfect, she improve her song writting with more catchy arrangements and what is more important she gives a far more consistency to up tempo passages. Again a excellent cover art and the music is far more superior then on Queen of the ocean. Some spectacular moments like on Secrets of Astrology , great piece where her voice combined with great keyboards skills of her husband Erik Norlander and with nice crunchy guitars of David Victor gives a very special atmosphere. Another highlight for me is The Bell , this tune is freaking amazing, really, her voice shines like on no other pieces, is mellow but damn consistent and catchy and aswell the lyrics are very very good, I'm impressed. Under the Sun and more up tempo Speed of Sound are aswell solid as hell. Aswell not to forget the both Astrology Suites are very fine intresting progressive rock pieces with a touch of metal. Very fine musicianship here, featuring on keyboards the omnipresent Erik Norlander, we have Arjen Anthony Lucassen on Tarot on keyboards and guitar and the drumer from dutch death metal band Gorefest - Ed Warby who done a very serious job here integrating perfect in the sound and all. So, a very fine album to my ears, always listen with pleasure since I've got it more then 10 years ago, really love it from beggining to end, 4 stars easy, recommended for fans of symphonic prog metal with some rockeir moments here and there.

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

Well, after the highly successful Queen Of The Ocean, I guess Lana Lane faced the same problem of everyone who finally releases a masterpiece: what to do next? Instead of risking repeat the formula, Lane and her husband, keyboardist/arranger/engineer/producer Erik Norlander, decided to try something new. Norlander and Lane had already guested on Arjen Anthony Luccasen´s Ayreon project, so they decided to say goodbye to the musicians they have worked so well thus far and go to Holland. Not surprisingly several musicians featured here are Lucassen´s sidemen (only bassist Tony Frankim went along with them).

As one can expect, the resulting material is considerable heavier than on Lane´s previous albums. There´s a subtle but strong Ayeron influence all over the CD. Even if the progressive elements are right there, especially on Norlander´s part, the classic rock/hard rock is not, replaced by heavy metal riffing and arrangements. if the new formula is better or worse, it´s a matter of your personal taste. Generally speaking I liked the album, although Secrets Of Astrology never reaches the beauty and elegance of Queen Of The Ocean, and much of her previous stuff for that matter. There are several fine moments like the title track (a real classic) and Long Winter Dreams (the closest they got here to their former sound. It is no surprise that it´s also the album´s best track). As usual, no sing is really bad or weak. The production and engineering are also terrific: Erik Norlander is definitely a Jack Of All Trades!

Conclusion: an interesting move and a nice album. If you like Lane´s more prog metal leanings you´ll certainly love it. My rating keeps shifting from3 to 4 stars, but 3.5 would be more precise.