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4 out of 5 stars  -  Uriah Heep ex goes back in time...softly      21. Jan 2013

By " MR. H. "   (Embra)  - (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)

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A bit of an odd cove this one. The last time I encountered one time Uriah Heep / Lucifer's Friend vocalist,
John Lawton, he had just punted out a rather good blues album.
Since then he's been plugging away, mainly in Europe, with a Bulgarian backing band,
and he even ended up presenting a Bulgarian travel documentary series.
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This album was originally released in Bulgaria, albeit with a different vocalist. However, having decided to
put out.an English language version of the album, writer and producer Dr. Milen Vrabevski, asked the by
now big in Bulgaria, John Lawton to perform the songs in English..
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Now, anyone expecting a return to his seventies rock roots will be in for a surprise, because this is a much
gentler version of John Lawton. And although the music harks back to the seventies, it's more the soft rock
side of things, .more early Elton John than 'Prince Of Darkness'. But that doesn't stop it being a very
enjoyable listen.
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Having heard Mr Lawton sing at one of the Uriah Heep Annual Conventions a decade or so ago, I knew he
still had the pipes then, and that's still the case here.
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This purports to be a concept album, but it's actual more of a song sequence, with positivity at its heart.
So far, so hippy. But the strongest of the songs really do stick with you, and tunes such as 'Two Hearts',
the bluesy,'Rock and Roll Is My Thing' and 'Maxi Rock', more than bear up to repeated plays.
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It is ballad heavy, so you need to get yourself into that frame of mind, but for fans of early seventies soft
rock, this  will be a welcome trip back in time.
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5 out of 5 stars   -  This man really can sing    5. Feb 2013
By Colin D.
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Its John Lawton, hence I guess you know what to expect. Not sure how his voice can still sound this good
after all this time but it does.
The songs do sound a bit like the softer side of 80s hard rock with modern production values, but let's face
it that's what he is good at. This album will never get the air play that it deserves.
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If you like Lawton era Uriah Heep or Lucifiers Friend then I am sure that you will like this as well.
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4 out of 5 stars  -  Welcome back!     2. Dec 2012
By R. Brennan
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John Lawton returns with an offering that turns back the clock for me to halcyon days some 30 odd years
now past.My first run through of the CD had me thinking this could easily be a soundtrack from a stage
show circa 1970.
The quality of this musical alliance with Diana Express is quite exceptional.
I would urge you dig in and give it several plays and yes you will get hooked.
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The collaboration with Jan Dumee a few years back showed that Lawton was not afraid to put a aside
the full throttle rock style when it suited him.
This current release is like a journey through the Lawton vocal CV. Its a calm meander through various
rock tempo and even finds time for a nostalgic quite spine tingling moment for the Heep fans out there.
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The title theme track `Mind Power' of the CD is a stunning opener and is cleverly returned to in the finale.
`Love's Light Shining' and `Fairytale' are just typical Lawton. Fans out there will be nodding ther heads
when they check them out.
Wonderful songs given that master vocal touch.
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I don't like making reviews just song lists so I will stop at a special mention for `Love In The World'; my
favourite so far!
Its late 76 early 77 again; this could so easily be vocal auditions for `Firefly', the vocal sounds that fresh.
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I have reviewed this as if it were a John Lawton solo but that is so far from the truth. A special mention
has to go out to the band Diana Express. Great musicians indeed!
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