30042014 - Michael Bormann "Love Is Magic"

Michael Bormann, the golden throated voice of bands like Jaded Heart and Rain, has released an album of ballads. This release includes songs from his previous albums, a couple of new songs and some covers. One of the new tunes, "Somebody Like You", as well as the older "Go Goin' Gone", have been written by a Norwegian songwriter who previously used to be Sane. This is all very pompous, sappy and extremely overblown, but as long as the songs are good Bormann gets away with it - with a voice like this he could probably get away with doing a Coldplay song! His version of The Beatles' "Help", however, is completely redundant, and too similar in arrangement to versions by acts like Tina Turner (nailed it) and Krokus (blew it). That, and the song "Way Back Home", which starts as a total rip off of The Bangles' "Eternal Flame", are the low points on an album that is perhaps best enjoyed in smaller doses of 4-5 songs at a time, but is thoroughly enjoyable as long as you don't overdose.