Category Archives: ROBIN GEORGE
ROBIN GEORGE Rogue Angels
Never a stranger to playful rocking, the veteran may let it rumble on “Rush” whose bluesy curlicues abate to bare the piece’s acoustic lining and then make room for a slider’s rolling up and down the fretboard and into the multi-layered funk of “Dangerous Daisy” where various six-string approaches rule the day. Yet showing-off isn’t part of this albums agenda as the Delta meander of “Love Is Blind” suggests, leaving Robin George not in the throes of “Painful Kiss” but on the wayward wing. 4/5 Stars
DMME.net (July 2018)
…the album contains a lot of brilliant guitar, supported by a good rhythm section. ‘RedOut’ has a LED ZEPPELIN feel with a worthy guitar solo, which is very supportive. ‘Go Down Fighting 2018′ is a kind of wild boogie where the voice of Robin GEORGE is very convincing, just like his guitar. An AC/DC vibe is evident thanks to a recognizable riff on ‘Dark & Stormy Night’. GEORGE teases the guitar again on ‘Dancing Shoes Again’, he really does not need help to make his music swing, except from his drummer. A last box of riffs with ‘Love Is Blind’. An album where we can only dream of being as good a guitarist as him.
Highlands Magazine (Translated – July 2018)
Brand new album from legendary singer-songwriter/guitarist Robin George. Rogue Angels is yet another explosive blast of rockin’ tracks from this ultra talented fellow. Listening to these songs, you’d never ever guess that George has been making music for as long as he has. You’d also never guess that he plays all the instruments on this album except for drums (courtesy of master percussionist Charlie Morgan). Rather than sounding like a collection of one man band recordings, these tracks have all the intense energy of a full band playing live. If you love guitars, you’re almost certain to love the sound of these recordings. Built upon solid rhythms and thick bass lines, these tracks are driven by some totally killer electric guitar riffs. This guy’s one of the best players out there…
This is one of those cases where a musician hits his prime at a later point in his career. Instead of burning out or fading away, George’s music seems to become more energized and magnetic. We can’t imagine any fan of real rock music not having an immediate attraction to cuts like “Wild Eyed Beauty Queen,” “Rush,” “Red Out” “Surreal Dream,” and “Love Is Blind.” Featuring some of the best rockin’ tracks we’ve heard in 2018, Rogue Angels is a solid and direct HIT. Highly recommended. TOP PICK.
babysue (May 2018)
With his strange worn out voice he mysteriously entices you in alongside his killer guitar work whose been on the scene for three plus decades now.
Robin is an intriguing artist who even wrote for the likes of Robert Plant, Phil Lynott and Glenn Hughes and has many an album out in his own right. He fires up on eleven cuts on this brand new release that feature Charlie Morgan too on drums with highlights including the sticking in your head opener ‘Wild Eyed Beauty Queen’ to the blues of ‘Love Is Blind’.
In between you’ll come across numbers like the catchy title track ‘Rogue Angels’; ‘Surreal Dream’ that puts me in mind of ‘Breath’ by The Prodigy in part of the chorus or the cheesy rocky poppified ‘Dancing Shoes Again’.
It is really a grower of an album after you get used to his throaty voice. 7.5/10
Metalliville Zine (May 2018)
Over a vast and varied career Robin George has created a hugely eclectic body of work, but with the hard rocking, blues edged energy of Rogue Angels it really feels like this singer, guitarist and songwriter is making music that completely satisfies his creative need. Surely it’s no coincidence that it also comes across as one of the most impressive albums he’s put his name to.
Sea Of Tranquility (May 2018)
Over the years, since debut solo album, Dangerous Games (1985), George’s songs and production have gained an instantly identifiable style. Themes of love, peace and perseverance are now hardwired into his lyrics…touchingly referring to maternal inspiration on ‘Play Nice’, and resurrecting ‘Go Down Fighting’s ode to the common man, on this 2018 version. Musically, he has perfected the “Alien” technique, where great melodies burst forth from an arrangement seemingly stitched together from fragments of guitar, bass and drum harmonies…especially effective on ‘Surreal Dream’ and ‘Wild Eyed Beauty Queen’.
Where so many Eighties AOR survivors come back with albums mired in the sound of dead horses being flogged, George gives the genre’s faded grandeur a fresh coat of paint.
The Midlands Rocks (May 2018)
Rogue Angels is a rare treasure, an original and innovative work of art, which seduces us subtly, throughout our mysterious journey. A Surreal Dream of Rogue Angels and Wild-Eyed Beauty Queens striding through Dark and Stormy Nights; lyrically, we’re enchanted as we leap between light and shade. Musically, we’re enthralled as the maestros, Robin and Charlie, power through this mind-blowing rock symphony.
…Surreal Dream whisks us into the weird and wonderful ‘bitter sweet’ world caught between dreams and nightmares. It combines mesmerizing Eastern rhythms with spectacular ‘pedal to the metal’ guitar and mesmerizing tribal drums. The enchanting, whimsical lyrics are full of humour as witches and Rogue Angels consort with the Bilston Market cowboys!
Deeper into the dreamscape, One Dark and Stormy Night is pure delight. It’s a rock n roll lullaby you never want to end, a bedtime story you gotta dance to and a tune you just can’t get outta your head all night!
Love is Blind is down and dirty, gritty blues rock that resounds with mind-blowing guitar work. The almost symphonic solo slides, roars and climbs; irresistibly dragging you in. Lyrically beautiful, vocally dynamic and musically magical. A fitting end to the Rogue Angels album, which is an undeniable original, and, indeed, a modern masterpiece.
Vivienne Leonard (May 2018)
Robin George played for over thirty years in the shadow of well known musicians such as Brian May, Roy Wood or Robert Plant. Time for recognition: his recent solo album ‘Rogue Angels’ on Angel Air Records, with melodic slide guitar and strong riffs, will blow you away.
Keys and Chords (May 2018)
ROBIN GEORGE Dangerous Music II
If you loved the first Dangerous Music album, this sequel doesn’t stray too far from that formula, which for most will be a good thing (don’t fix what ain’t broke!) George’s high pitched, melodic vocals and crunchy guitar work permeate these catchy, glossy pop/rock tunes, with songs like “Dangerous Music”, “Heart to Heart”, “Streetwise”, the Robert Plant sounding “Don’t Come Crying”, and the charming synth pop number “Machine” really standing out. “Ace in My Hand” really rocks hard, complete with George’s metallic riffs and blazing solos (he’s a vastly underrated guitarist), and the intoxicating “Red For Danger” is a can’t miss track, and no surprise that Robert Plant himself chose to cover it on his Sixty Six To Timbuktu album.
Thanks to Angel Air, this very fine album can now be enjoyed by everyone who has been waiting for its official release for a very long time.
Sea Of Tranquility (July 2015)
‘The American Way’ is a thumping Funk Rock Pop number, ‘No More Mister Nice Guy’ is classy, glistening electro-AOR with a great guitar solo and ‘Red For Danger’ is a busy piece of Soul-infused Pop…For Robin George fans this release is a simple ‘must have’…
Fireworks magazine (May 2015)
Hearing this now, the fact that this album was never released seems particularly sad…because there are several songs that could easily have been huge hits. The track that seems like it would have been the perfect hit single is “Heart To Heart”…this one could’ve been huge. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, these tracks have a great big slick sound. Robin’s fans will certainly be pleased that this one has finally resurfaced.
babysue (April 2015)
Robin has a great pedigree playing with amongst others. Phil Lynott, Robert Plant, Roy Wood and Diamond Head. Dangerous Music 11 is clearly an Eighties production, I can imagine some of the tracks playing in scenes from Miami Vice, glossy synth pop overladen with Robins guitar work.
ninebattles.com (April 2015)
Listening to this now, the fact that this album was never released seems like a crime, this is the album that could have turned Robin into a household name, as there are several songs on here that could easily have been huge hits for him. Has this been worth the wait, if you are a Robin George fan, than absolutely? Go out and buy it, you will not be disappointed.
Planet Mosh (April 2015)
…demos as they are, these 17 tracks retain their potential even after almost three decades of shelf life.
DMME.net (March 2015)
As you would expect the musical template follows that of ‘Dangerous Music’ with Robin George taking the 80′s synth pop sound and successfully adding guitar crunch, along with his distinctive high end vocals…If you have a copy of ‘Dangerous Music’ in your collection then you need part 2 as well. Classy pop rock with lots of synths and enjoyable melodies. Often sequels don’t live up to the originals, luckily in this case that doesn’t apply. ****
Jason Ritchie, www.getreadytorock.com (March 2015)
ROBIN GEORGE History
…this is a worthy trip down memory lane for any fan of Robin George’s music. Me I’m off to see if I can find my old leather jacket and pixie boots in celebration of the release of ‘History’…
Uber Rock (August 2014)
Re-mastered by Robin himself, ‘History’ has been kept as an honest appraisal of its time, a little tape hiss and abuse of the sound-limiters in evidence. However, don’t let that put you off experiencing the ‘History’ of one of the U.K.’s most under-sung Melodic Rock songwriters in his most honest, raw form.
Fireworks Magazine (August 2014)
This new release unearths a body of work recorded some 30 years ago that until now had never seen the light of day. The album mixes rock, pop, funk, reggae for an experience that would’ve been right at home somewhere in between the radio rock of Foreigner and stadium-pop reggae of UB40 in 1980. While this may not exactly sit well with metal or reggae traditionalists, there’s no denying the craftsmanship and guitar work on numbers like ‘Go Down Fighting’ and ‘She Really Blew My Mind.’
New Noise Magazine (August 2014)
The quality lifts with the arrival of Ocean Colour Scene, quickly followed by Lane’s musical associates Slim Chance, who ably shift into knockabout form for Pistol Glen Matlock taking the vocal lead and The Clash’s Mick Jones doing his best guitar posing on a touching version of The Face’s ‘Debris’ and suitably raucous ‘You’re So Rude’.
Classic Rock Magazine (August 2014)
…the development of an obviously talented musician, his equally talented surroundings and the makings of the future rock artist, bluesman and master arranger are all there, even at such an early point. I think this one is for us oldies, but most aspiring musicians or rock fans have a lesson coming here.
Festival Photo (July 2014)
Some of the tracks such as ‘Heartline’ would be rejigged by George when he was launched as a solo artist by Arista in the mid-80′s so the listener gets to enjoy an early version of this often overlooked pop rock classic.
Sea Of Tranquillity (July 2014)
History supplies a tuneful vehicle for the Wolverhampton born musician’s inventive brand of music-making, with ‘Heartline’ and ‘Go Down Fighting’ emerging as the cream of an undemanding crop.
Kevin Bryan, Regional Newspapers
ROBIN GEORGE Dangerous Music
Here we find hard rock, with the help of keyboards as you can tell from the opening of “Heartline”, while my favorite “Spy” has a fresh melody that reminds me of the Yes group, provided by the acoustic guitars, which are combined with power, and most of all this comparison comes from the shrill voice of Robin George.
MetalFOX (September 2014)
The music has stood the test of time and in ‘Heartline’ you have a true rock anthem that should be gracing any rock compilation worth its salt. The crashing guitar riff, harmony vocals and keys make for a song you can listen to again and again. But there are plenty of other delights including ‘Spy’, which has a slight T Rex feel mainly in the vocals. The catchy ‘No News Is Good News’ would I am sure have proved a worthy single if given the chance as would ‘Showdown’ which featured Phil Lynott on bass.
Of the five bonus songs three are from the ‘Tommy Vance’ show with ‘Spy’ dropping the acoustic sound of the album version for a more keyboard led approach. It actually sounds better than the album version! There is also a heavy remix of ‘Heartline’, which again is worthy having if you’re a fan.
One of the great 80′s melodic rock albums from a UK artist who could more than hold his own against the deluge of US melodic hard rock bands around at the same time. An essential album to have in your collection. ****1/2
Jason Ritchie, www.getreadytorock.com (September 2010)
…an excellent 80′s radio Rock album…If you’re into slick FM rock, AOR and Melodic Hard Rock then ‘Dangerous Music’ could be a hidden gem…
www.foob.be (September 2010)
Most numbers are a mix of solid rock, ’80s melodious pop rock…it sounds real great, too.
www.music-news.com (October 2010)
Dangerous Music was the launching pad for what was to come…
www.seaoftranquility.org (October 2010)
…a very slick commercial album…plenty of Robin’s tasty guitar work…but it also presents many songs that, in a perfect world, would have been major hits…This reissue will hopefully make more people aware of this talented fellow’s early recorded work. Top pick.
www.babysue.com (November 2010)
…this might well introduce some newcomers to Robin George’s oeuvre…Dangerous Music showcases Robin’s versatile guitar and songwriting skills and makes a refreshing change from the well trodden cliches of 80′s rock standards.
www.tnt-audio.com (November 2010)
Angel Air are best known for their impressive reissue catalog and high on the list of 2010 reissues is Dangerous Music…
www.mwe3.com (November 2010)
Although the album is very much a product of its time, the standard of song writing and musicianship means that George’s smart guitar work and the wonderful keyboard interplay elevates the eighties vibe of the songs into something that still sounds fresh and relevant today
Fireworks (December 2010)
This sought after 1985 album by Robin George finally gets a reissue … It’s very 80′s squeaky clean pop-rock…
Classic Rock Society (December 2010)
The fact that over the course of his career Robin has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, like Robert Plant, Phil Lynott, Glenn Hughes and Carl Palmer, to name just a few, I think speaks for itself as to amount of talent this guy possesses as a musician.
www.seaoftranquility.org (January 2011)
The production has typical ’80s drum bangs and stylish keyboards, and George more than hints towards being radio-friendly – in fact, he does everything that can be expected to appeal to the masses by offering catchy songs over which he drools with his falsetto. In addition, the songs are colored with a slightly oriental touch for the sake of being exotic.
The result is a bit dated and forced, and yet it features some wonderful lead guitar playing and the musicianship is quite good.
Maelstrom Ezine