Search - Michael Learns to Rock :: 19 Love Ballads

Another feather in MLTR's hat ...

Ilavarasu Tamilmani | Edison, NJ USA | 01/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"MLTR has been making international recordings for nearly 15 years now (the band was formed in 1991, when Jascha Richter (singer and keyboard player), Kåre Wanscher (drummer), and Mikkel Lentz (guitarist) came together to form a band. Bass guitarist Søren Madsen was roped in later), and yet they are able to keep their freshness alive in their songs. Though most of the songs delve around emotions surrounding love and its ilk, they have been able to make each song unique in itself.



Their songs are characterized by a clearly understandable accent, with heavy attention to the lyrics. Chorus singing forms a key portion of almost all their songs.



This collection is amazing to listen at a stretch, and I am writing about the songs I liked most in it -



The Ghost of you (10/10) - The first song in the album, this is the song of a person who has been separated from his/her lover, it has smooth chorus singing, guitar music, and a wonderful, moving outro Chorus music in the end



The Actor (10/10) - A good typical teenage song - great chorus, acoustic guitar music



Sleeping Child (10/10) - From their album - Colours, this is a passionate song about the sleeping child. Nice guitar piece music



Complicated Heart (9/10) - A sad-to-happy song, slow, soulful lyric. Nice acoustic guitar music



25 Minutes (10/10) - another favorite of mine - the song of a repenting person who sees the good in his/her partner after she has gone away



Love will never lie - Again, lilting chorus singing, adding to the beauty of the voice of Jascha Ricter



I'm Gonna Be Around (8/10) - Nice chorus and guitar interludes. Chorus dominates here!



Paint my Love (10/10): Probably the most popular song in MLTR's repertoire, mostly for the wonderful music, and the equally terrific lyrics (`Paint, my love/You should paint my love/It's a picture of a thousand sunsets/ It's a freedom of thousand loves...)



Breaking My Heart (8/10) - A sad but good song with nice chorus singing



Strange Foreign Beauty (10/10) - Great 'strange music' when the song begins. Added to that is the amazing voice of Jascha Ricter. Good, slow electric guitar piece music towards the end of the song.



Blue Night - Another romantic song with great music and chorus. `When the blue night is over my face/on the dark side of the world in space...'



That's why you go (10/10) - My favorite song, great piano music, and lyrics. See the following lyrics (the song is set as if a person is separating from his/her lover),

(quote)

`Sitting here all alone in the middle of nowhere

Don't know which way to go

There ain't so much to say now between us

There ain't so much for you

There ain't so much for me anymore...'

What follows is an aptly played electric guitar music piece which carries the emotions of the song well.



I echo Mr. Srinivas Khatta's views about the propriety of listening it with kids. If you are collecting varied pop songs, known for their lyrics and soulful singing and music, surely this is a great cd to be with your collection of pop songs.

"