Moontan - Remastered & Expanded

1961年結成、結成60周年記念となった2021年にGeorge Kooymans(g/vo)の難病発病公表とともにそのキャリアにピリオドを打ったDutch Rockシーンの怪物バンド、蘭Polydorから発表された'73年作が蘭Red Bulletから'21年リマスター2枚組3面デジパック仕様拡大盤で登場!意外にも初リマスター化、Disc1に'73年作本編、Disc2に今回初登場となる本作のレコーディング・セッション音源から、Album収録曲のRough & Alternate mix ver.9曲をそれぞれ収録。

英/米Singleチャートでもトップ20入りを果たす大ヒット曲となった名曲'Radar Love'を収録、'Are You Receiving Me''The Vanilla Queen'等9分以上に及ぶ大曲も収録しつつ、このバンドの持ち味である独特のスピード感を湛えたポップなHard Rock/R'n'Rなサウンド/楽曲と、無駄の無いソリッドかつタイトなアンサンブル/プレイが詰まった、バンドのみならずDutch Rockシーンを代表する名作です!!元CUBY+BLIZZARDSのEelco Gelling(slide-g)が'Rador Love'にゲスト参加。

マスターは蘭RockジャーナリストWouter Bessels監修によるオリジナル・マスター・テープからの24Bit/192kHzリマスタリング音源を使用、ボーナスとしてDisc1に本作の米MCA盤に'Suzy Lunacy (Mental Rock)''Just Like Vince Taylor'に替わり収録された'Big Tree, Blue Sea(1973 version)'および'73/'74年Single盤収録曲'Candy's Going Bad(Single version)''Radar Love(Single version)''The Song Is Over''Instant Poetry''From Heaven, From Hell(1974 version)'を追加。ブックレットには日本盤を含む世界各国のLP/7" inch/Casette等各種ジャケットや当時の販促写真や発売告知ポスター/音楽雑誌記事等貴重写真と音楽ライターにしてGOLDEN EARRINGコレクターのJeroen Rasによる新規バイオグラフィーを掲載。

This 1973 outing is the album that raised Golden Earring to an international level of popularity, primarily on the strength of the hit single and enduring radio favorite "Radar Love." However, there is much more to this album than just that hit. In many ways, Moontan is like a summation of everything the group had learned on their first three albums. It presents a similar combination of prog epics, heavy rockers, and songs that combine both elements, but everything is raised to a new level of inspiration and polish. It starts with a bang thanks to "Candy's Going Bad," a piece that starts off as a thunderous, pounding rocker but transforms midway into a bluesy instrumental mood piece. Other highlights include the hit single "Radar Love," a relentless rock tune with a left-field instrumental break in which tribal drums duel with a big band-style horn section, and "Just Like Vince Taylor," a guitar-slinging slice of boogie rock that pays tribute to the fallen rock idol of the title. The album also includes what may be the group's finest prog effort in "Vanilla Queen": this classic builds from pulsating, ominous verses dominated by synthesizer into a hard-rocking chorus and also throws in a stark acoustic guitar midsection before climaxing in a frantic band jam augmented by blaring horns and an ever-spiraling string section. Despite the album's overall strength, not every song reaches these heights: "Are You Receiving Me?" recycles some hooks from the group's past classic "She Flies on Strange Wings," and the twangy country-pop of "Suzy Lunacy (Mental Rock)" is a little too poppy to gel with the rest of the album. However, even these tunes benefit from tight arrangements and a spirited, totally committed performance from the group. The result is an album that retains its power today. In the end, Moontan is a necessity for Golden Earring fans, and a worthwhile listen for anyone interested in 1970s rock at its most adventurous. ~ Donald A. Guarisco