Grand Prix
Samurai

Uriah Heep and MSG. What do these two bands have in common? Besides having written indelible pages in Hard n' Heavy history, they have had (or in the case of the former, still have) former members of Grand Prix in their lineup, a valuable meteor of Pomp Rock from across the Channel.

Pomp is a word that, at best, generates an expression of perplexity (when not even a mischievous hilarity due to don't make me explain what...), and stands for "pompous," referring to a type of Rock, more or less Hard, with strong symphonic connotations (so much so that it sometimes borders on Prog) and a great melodic taste. In short, a genre on the border between Prog Rock and AOR...

Dated 1983, "Samurai" is the third and, unfortunately, last album of this excellent Pomp Rock group and features Robin McAuley, a singer I will never cease to praise who played a key role in the artistic and commercial comeback of Michael Schenker in the late '80s (as well as the author of an unlikely but excellent cover of "Run To The Hills" by Iron Maiden, precisely together with the blonde German axeman).
We find his raspy yet melodic voice also on Grand Prix's second album ("There For None To See" from 1982) while on their self-titled debut from 1980 we find the current vocalist of Uriah Heep, Bernie Shaw, who brought along another former Grand Prix member, keyboardist Phil Lanzon (clear, right?).

The album is a true gem, pompous without being redundant, rich in never predictable melodies and, why not, very beautiful solos masterfully performed by guitarist Mick O'Donaghue. The dance opens with "Give Me What's Mine", so sunny it might be useful to you in anticipation of winter. But there are also more typically Hard Rock moments as in "Shout" or "Somewhere Tonight". An intro where one might even hear Mark Knopfler features "50/50", also stirred by odd tempos. Special mention is due for the wonderful ballad "Here We Go Again", both sumptuous and delicate, where the talented Robin McAuley delights us with an almost moving melody (I know, we rockers have a soft heart...), and for the mini-suite "Samurai", a ride lasting over 7 minutes in the vein of epic and pompous Hard Rock.

In my opinion, the masterpiece track of Grand Prix is in the previous album (I'm talking about "Tough Of The Track" from "There For None To See"), an album, however, inconsistent in the quality of the tracks. But that's another story, in the meantime, if you find it, don't hesitate to make this "Samurai" yours! (or download it wildly).