Phenomena I, II & III - the re-releases

[schema type=”review” name=”Phenomena I, II & III – the re-releases” author=”Sabine van Gameren” pubdate=”2018-12-31″ ]Phenomena is Rock multimedia concept from the hands of Tom Galley and his brother Mel Galley. The music is dating back to the 80’s and early 90’s and contains names like John Wetton, Brian May, Don Airey and many more. Now the three albums are re-released, ready to be out there for a whole new generation of Rock lovers.

Phenomena I
This new version has a 2018 remaster and some interesting extra’s in the booklet, but looking at what is there for the people who have not heard this music before you can get the introduction to the concept albums as Phenomena is making them. Some dreamy tunes, catchy and telling you a story. “Dance With The Devil” has a bit of a Folk touch. “Who’s Watching You” catches up with the power, but sometimes lacks a bit of the flow. Much stronger is “Hell On Wings” which stands more on its own.
Altogether an album that has its potential but does not show me something unique. But putting it in perspective: it came out in 1985, two years before I was born so I am perhaps a bit spoiled with over thirty years of music released after it. Perhaps it was innovative at its time. Anno 2019 it sound like a pleasant release but not warming my heart extensively.

Phenomena II – Dream Runner
The second release dates back to 1987. It starts powerful with the dramatic “Stop!”. The album is themed with love. That does not make it a ballad release, all though you find some of that on there as well. “Did It All For Love” is on it as well, it was a single that reached the charts in South America. The majority of the songs are in one line, after some songs it becomes that itchy cliché you can’t get rid of. The most standing out it is the closer “It Must Be Love” which closes the album. Here they expanded everything a bit further and although it is a quite calm track you can hear the qualities of the musicians most.

Phenomena III – Innervision
A gap of a couple of years this time, in 1993 this album got out and completes the trilogy. Also here an energetic start “Rock House” Vocally stronger than anything we heard before. Compositionwise not much different than we got used to from the first two releases. On “Banzai” we hear some great riffs coming into the spotlight, a bit more than before. Good to see that they have given the space for that, to let the concept be broader. Also the third song “What About Love” seem to stick out a bit more than what we heard on the first two releases. It seems like that this album has just that bit more. Throughout the release it feels like this final chapter of the trilogy is the most complete one. The variation is there the whole has taken a huge leap in production and everyone has just more chance to come alive. By far the best of the three.

Altogether it is nice to go back in time and have these albums on your hands. A piece of history and now available for a new generation, but also collectors will certainly appreciate it for all of the three albums have something nice to find in the booklet.

	1. KISS OF FIRE 2. STILL THE NIGHT 3. DANCE WITH THE DEVIL 4. PHOENIX RISING 5. BELIEVE 6. WHO’S WATCHING YOU? 7. HELL ON WINGS 8. TWILIGHT ZONE 9. PHENOMENA
	1. STOP! 2. SURRENDER 3. DID IT ALL FOR LOVE 4. HEARTS ON FIRE 5. JUKEBOX 6. DOUBLE 6, 55, DOUBLE 4 7. NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER 8. MOVE – YOU LOSE! 9. EMOTION MAMA 10.IT MUST BE LOVE
	1. ROCK HOUSE 2. BANZAI 3. WHAT ABOUT LOVE? 4. INTO THE FIRE 5. A WHOLE LOTTA LOVE 6. SECRET OF LOVE 7. IF YOU WANT TO ROCK 8. HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME? 9. SHAPE IT UP 10.ROCK MY SOUL