Greg Lake & Geoff Downes
Ride the Tiger
Manticore Records
2015
Ride The Tiger was the name of a music project which started back in 1988 between Geoff Downes and Greg Lake. Unfortunately, that music collaboration between those two renowned musicians didn’t bring forth an album, but it did bring forth some very tasteful tracks. “Love Under Fire” was released by Asia on “Aqua” in 1992 and “Affairs of the Heart” was released by ELP on “Black Moon” in 1992 as well. The other tracks appeared on rarities compilations and two of them remained unreleased until now.
“Ride the Tiger”, the album, features 6 tracks and one alternate mix on “Love Under Fire”. These tracks are supposed to be a bit dated, since they weren’t “properly” finished, but as soon as you listen to them you’ll think otherwise. I mean yeah surely musicians like Geoff & Greg would orchestrate those tracks differently but simplicity also has its charm right? The production is full and powerful, even though it has that late 80s sweet sound, which I personally fancy a lot.
I’ve listened to the tracks several times and I caught myself singing along some refrains along the way. I even thought that I had an album from the late 80s playing, till I realized that I wasn’t wrong at all… but those tracks weren’t released when they were supposed to. What a great album would have been released by the project Ride The Tiger back then… I couldn’t help but think. We should be thankful that we get the chance to listen to the original tracks now and even though we will never have the chance to listen how these tracks would have been like if they had been released in the late 80s under the moniker Ride The Riger… it doesn’t matter at all, cuz those tracks are simply wonderful no matter what. If you like the late 80s/early 90s work by Geoff and Greg, then do not think twice… get “Ride the Tiger” and revel in some beautiful 80s melodic pop/rock music…
“Ride the Tiger”, the album, features 6 tracks and one alternate mix on “Love Under Fire”. These tracks are supposed to be a bit dated, since they weren’t “properly” finished, but as soon as you listen to them you’ll think otherwise. I mean yeah surely musicians like Geoff & Greg would orchestrate those tracks differently but simplicity also has its charm right? The production is full and powerful, even though it has that late 80s sweet sound, which I personally fancy a lot.
I’ve listened to the tracks several times and I caught myself singing along some refrains along the way. I even thought that I had an album from the late 80s playing, till I realized that I wasn’t wrong at all… but those tracks weren’t released when they were supposed to. What a great album would have been released by the project Ride The Tiger back then… I couldn’t help but think. We should be thankful that we get the chance to listen to the original tracks now and even though we will never have the chance to listen how these tracks would have been like if they had been released in the late 80s under the moniker Ride The Riger… it doesn’t matter at all, cuz those tracks are simply wonderful no matter what. If you like the late 80s/early 90s work by Geoff and Greg, then do not think twice… get “Ride the Tiger” and revel in some beautiful 80s melodic pop/rock music…