|
Post by Platypus on Jun 20, 2016 1:16:25 GMT
Leon Berger is a songwriter/performer who had some minor success in Australia in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, after initially struggling following his emigration from Russia. A classically trained pianist, his dexterity shows in some of the songs on the album I purchased (his 2nd) in the early 80s, his 1980 Living In A Mirror. He only released two albums, his first being self-titled. His material is not so easy to find online, so I hope folk can access what I've found. Since I mostly know him from Living In A Mirror, I was going to link to more from that album, but ones I had already found have been taken down. I'll search again and add if I can locate alternatives! He did write a song called "When The Night Comes", but I only found it as a recording from the crowd on a portable during a live performance, apologies for quality! Likewise the other live recorded oddities to complete the grouping, one credited as from a Sydney restaurant and a couple more from Russia, where I gather he continued to perform fairly regularly. I don't know his current status. Edit: the only place I've been able to find any of Living In A Mirror hosted so far is a Russian site, transcribed on a less than 100% turntable. I've had nothing flagged as suspect about it so far, seems songs don't start until they buffer 50% if you'd like to listen to some. I was originally going to put up Reasons, Maybe It's The Way The Wind Blows, and possibly Take Me Higher and The Awakening of Sleeping Venus: vk.com/wall-4246446_4303Love is Like a Rainbow (I actually prefer Dennis Waterman's cover of this): Long Trip to Paradise: Show Me the Way to the Jungle: Sarah: When the Night Comes: Unforgettable: Russia 1989 Labelled "Nochnymi Islands": When You Open Your Eyes:
|
|
|
Post by unomusette on Jun 20, 2016 20:52:05 GMT
A totally new artist on me, looking forward to exploring his work
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Jun 21, 2016 21:41:09 GMT
Same here for me as uno, a totally new artist. Looking very forward to seeing what he sounds like, looks like has a lot of talent. Review coming in the next few days or so, Plat!
Jim
|
|
|
Post by Chippa on Jun 24, 2016 19:35:38 GMT
Love is Like a Rainbow – The first thing that comes to mind is how much it sounds like Gerry Rafferty. Otherwise, this is some cute 70’s-centric pop music.
Long Trip to Paradise – Sounds like the opening theme song to some long-lost 70’s sitcom. That’s about the best thing I can say about it.
Show Me the Way to the Jungle – The Bee Gees meets 10cc in a soft car crash. Strangely appealing, while being slightly annoying, all at once.
Sarah – Somewhat Bowie-esque vocals, but the music is ultra cringeworthy. I think my blood sugar spiked a hundred points just from listening to it.
When the Night Comes – The third best song with this title, behind Jeff’s ELO, and Joe Cocker.
Unforgettable – Good song, but this version is forgettable, ironically enough.
Nochnymi Islands – I’m trying hard to be positive, but songs like this make it tough. Awful. Just bad. If a fever dream was set to music, it would sound like this.
When You Open Your Eyes – If there was a really mediocre Russian Alan Parsons Project cover band, I imagine this is what they’d sound like.
Being honest, I’ll give these songs about a 2/10. The first song is good, and the third song is interesting, but other than that……..
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Jun 24, 2016 22:56:38 GMT
OK, here is my take on the Leon Berger songs.
01. "Love is Like a Rainbow" – I really like this one. Great title, melody, and performance. Beautiful piano.
02. "Long Trip to Paradise" – This guy makes some really good catchy choruses. Really like the chorus. Very unique arrangement. Like the title and the very cool ending chords.
03. "Show Me the Way to the Jungle" – I really like this one, as well. Definitely pre-disco Bee Gees as Chippa said. I really like it. This guy is really musically talented, so it makes what might be an ordinary song by someone else really interesting and keeps you from getting bored. He reminds me a lot of an artist named Charlie Peacock whom I have been intending to feature one of these times.
04. "Sarah" – No question he was imitating Bowie on the vocal, no question. I really love the sad and beautiful chorus. Very nice pretty arrangement.
05. "When the Night Comes" – Like it a lot, really grows on me as it goes on. Very melodic with a touch of reggae!
06. "Unforgettable" – I'm 48 and admit I'm old, so what the heck, I like these kind of songs now. Nice arrangement on a great standard. Great duet, passionate performance by both artists. Really like the break with the piano and the saxaphone. Reminds me of when my dad would play all these standards on the piano when I was a kid.
07. "Nochnymi Islands"- Sounds like its going to break into "Nobody Gonna Breaka My Stride". Can't understand the words, but do like the overall feel, and the interesting keyboard riff, reminds me of somehting Billy Joel would have had on his "52nd Street" album, I am reminded much of a few of the songs on that album from this one.
08. "When You Open Your Eyes" – Great inspiring vocal performance. Like it a lot.
Star Rating: 4.2 out of 5 Prime Cuts: "Love is Like a Rainbow", "Show Me the Way to the Jungle", "When You Open Your Eyes", "Long Trip to Paradise" Bottom Line: A talented artist who shines best with inspirational ballads, and his great pop choruses.
If any ideal CD of his that is a catch all of his best stuff, just let us know, or what you think his best album is.
Thanks for the introduction to this artist, Plat, I did enjoy playing these very much.
Will mark you down for the next open spot.
Jim
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Jun 24, 2016 23:01:41 GMT
... Being honest, I’ll give these songs about a 2/10. The first song is good, and the third song is interesting, but other than that…….. Well now Jon Gibson and Russ Taff made another friend, ha ha. And don't forget about the Joe Jackson review you promised, though I certainly understand what you mean about being busy. Jim
|
|
|
Post by Platypus on Jun 24, 2016 23:37:43 GMT
Is anyone able to access the Russian host site I linked to: vk.com/wall-4246446_4303My original intention was to feature maybe 5 songs from Living In A Mirror, but when I went to post the topic I discovered the youtube videos of those songs had been taken down. The rest apart from Long Trip to Paradise were to be additional background. I'd suggest a listen to Reasons (my favorite on the album) and either or both Take Me Higher/Maybe It's The Way The Wind Blows to get the Leon Berger sound from when I got the album.
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Jun 25, 2016 3:23:42 GMT
Is anyone able to access the Russian host site I linked to: vk.com/wall-4246446_4303My original intention was to feature maybe 5 songs from Living In A Mirror, but when I went to post the topic I discovered the youtube videos of those songs had been taken down. The rest apart from Long Trip to Paradise were to be additional background. I'd suggest a listen to Reasons (my favorite on the album) and either or both Take Me Higher/Maybe It's The Way The Wind Blows to get the Leon Berger sound from when I got the album. Thanks for the suggestions, and for some reason for that link, I'm not getting the sound. Jim
|
|
|
Post by Platypus on Jun 25, 2016 7:03:20 GMT
I think it takes about a minute to start for me - as I mentioned it doesn't seem to start playing until it has buffered 50%, and doesn't seem to download quickly. The buffering indication is very faint and the sound just suddenly starts later for me if I wait long enough.
|
|
|
Post by unomusette on Jun 25, 2016 22:32:17 GMT
Leon Berger is a completely unknown quantity to me, so I have no preconceptions here other than trusting that if a fellow ELO fan likes him he can't be all bad. Here goes: Love is like a rainbow - I really like the smooth sound of this for a start, it's like ear balm. It reminds me of something ELO Part II might have come up with, great opener and I'm quite sorry when it ends. Long Trip to Paradise - The video is a bit dizzy-making, interesting punchy keyboards here although it does sound a bit dated now. He puts me in mind of Mika a bit, multi tasking like a good 'un, quirky lyrics and with lots of stage confidence. Show me the way to the jungle - Very bass-heavy sound on this as it opens, better as it progresses. A bit bland but some nice quirky bits here and there, Jeff would be proud of him. The vocal is a bit thin compared to previous songs I find. Sarah - Of it's type, this is a good song with a nice melody. Not my usual fare but I can see it being very big in Europe for instance. When the night comes - Considering this is a live take he's pretty good, it could be a record playing at a disco. Again this would be good Europop, doesn't blow me away but it's not upleasant. It is unfeasibly long though, and I don't like the squiddly keyboard solo. Next... Unforgettable - Oh dear, no. Nochnymi Islands - Solidly folky but a bit of a cabaret type song. Strange dancing bit, whatever is she wearing? Call the fashion police.., When you open your eyes - Too slow and schmaltzy for me and I hate the keyboard sounds. But I know this kind of thing is madly popular with some, who am I to judge? This collection started off really well, if a bit '80's sounding, and he reminded me of ELO Part II and Mika quite a lot. It did descend a bit into the mainstream after that and meandered off away from my preferred listening genres. He has a good voice though, and a knack for a quirky lyric now and then. I'd give this collection 4 out of 10, he has a place on the '80's revival circuit for sure. Thanks for sharing Platypus
|
|
|
Post by Platypus on Jun 27, 2016 3:58:19 GMT
It was quite disconcerting to discover when I posted up the material I had prepared over a month ago, that the important clips had been taken down. Leon seemed to have refined his style and presentation between his first and second album, and if that had continued I thought he may have had a future. Perhaps he peaked with Living In A Mirror - certainly any recent material I could find suggested his voice has not held up in the way Jeff's has. Hence I agree the material like Unforgettable is extremely forgettable, and I consider the non-LIAM offerings to be a 4 out of 10 and the better songs on LIAM a 7/10.
I did just now find a pleasant if undistinguished offering - an English/Russian translation of a song by Aleshkina Lyubov apparently, What To Do:
Some faintly ELO chord structures in places.
|
|
|
Post by queenofthehours on Jul 14, 2016 16:50:41 GMT
Love is Like a Rainbow – I quite like the opening. It sound very promising, slightly 80s? 70s? I little cheesy but in a good way. I like it a lot.
Long Trip to Paradise – Very vintage sounding - that's good.
Show Me the Way to the Jungle – The best so far for me, I don’t know why but I do like it a lot.
Sarah – Rather nice. Not really my thing but fur what it is I like it. I've heard worse.
When the Night Comes – A very nice tune. Not up to Jeff-standard but better than any other EO title-alike I've heard.
Unforgettable – I once heard this song sung very badly in a talent contest and it has put me off every version, even the original, forever. Sorry!
Nochnymi Islands – A nice jaunty tune.
When You Open Your Eyes – Not really my sound but I appreciate the 80s/70s-ness and anything sounding like that is fine by me.
I have never heard of this guy at all. Some tracks I like more than others but I am very glad to know him.
|
|