Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...
Lawrence Gowan is a canadian musician, but few people know that he is a Glasgow, Scotland born.
Second album in his discography, "Strange Animal" was a commercial success, spawning the hit singles 'A Criminal Mind', '(You're A) Strange Animal' and 'Cosmetics'.
I won't fool you, this isn't an AOR album, this music is english 80's pop.
But with unusual, intelligent and original twists.
Produced by David Tickle (Prince, Split Enz, Sting, U2), you have a clear idea of sound and style.
Basically a keyboard player, Gowan wrote this stuff on piano, and all tracks are focused to the massive use of synthesizers, electric piano and (then 'the' new toy) fairlight.
Remarkable is the job of Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) on bass and particularly the 'stick', that strange and rare instrument.
This album is catchy and pretty straightforward in its essence, but has uncommon arrangements and as said, creative twists, different sounding from other keyboard pop music that was being made at the same time in the golden decade.
Recorded in England, at the studio where John Lennon made his "Imagine" album, all these songs still sound fresh today, with that kind of eighties 'atmosphere' which is impossible to recreate again.
A good one.
01 - Cosmetics
02 - Desperate
03 - City of the Angels
04 - Walking on Air
05 - Burning Torches of Hope
06 - Keep the Tension On
07 - Guerilla Soldier
08 - (You're A) Strange Animal
09 - A Criminal Mind
Larry Gowan : vocals, piano, Fairlight CMI, synths
Chris Jarret : guitar
David Rhodes : guitar
Tony Levin : bass, stick
Jerry Marotta : drums & percussion
David Tickle : production, programming
GOWAN - Strange Animal
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Friday, February 19, 2010
GOWAN - Strange Animal (1985)
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8 Comments:
Hello, camelblue!
This is a great album. Since I have it on CD, I did not download this. Is this ripped from CD? If not, I can provide you with a CD rip.
In the Requests corner someone upped the 1982 debut, but only from vinyl. I'm looking fro a CD rip from that one.
One more request:
Wouldn't it be great to post the real rare gems in FLAC (or another LOSSLESS format) instead of MP3 320k? In these times storing space and transfer rates are not a big problem anymore I think.
Best wishes and still good luck with your blog
1980-F
@ 1980-F, Germany:
Thanx for the offer. It's a CD rip.
Agree with you 'bout storing devices. But (trust me), 90% people avoid FLAC/APE (not me btw).
And 2 important points:
- Most the albums posted here (and R&F section) are old, pretty hard to find, only vinyl.
- This site is intended for information basically, mp3 (lossy music) is enough.
I don't have Gowan's debut on CD (or ripped from), sorry.
Thanks for your comment !
GREAT BLOD :))
THNKS ALOT 'Camelblue'
I'M LOOCKING TO FOR 'Au Quebec'
CAN U SHARE THAT ONE IF YOU PLEASE IF U HAVE IT
THNKS IN ADVENCE
YOU ROCK \0/
EuMe
Can't remember the personell on this album, but he often also had Peter Gabriel's drummer and Alex Lifeson of Rush on his early albums.
The Gowan albums were released on Rush's Anthem records in Canada.
can you re-upload this album? the download link is dead.
thx
FIXED
Can u reup this?
Dying to have it. Have the vinyl.
Also, any chance you have JAmes House 1983 album?
please reup link is broken thanks
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