GREENHOUZE – Greenhouze

Greenhouze was founded in Norway in 1995 by guitarist Lars Levin. In 1999, Levin convinced singer Hans Olav Solli to join the band. Solli, who is most famous in Norway from Sons of Angels, a band who ruled the AOR scene around 1990 with hit songs like “Cowgirl” and “Lonely Rose” from their self-titled debut album. That band toured every small city and every sweaty gym hall of Norway and routinely pulled that one lucky girl on stage during “Lonely Rose.” For the rest of the world, Solli might be known from bands like 21 Guns and Psycho Motel – featuring Iron Maiden’s axe man Adrian Smith.

Greenhouze is a 12 track CD starting off with a song called “The Point,” which is a dreamy song starting with waves. It kind of makes you think of that therapeutic relaxing music they play in Spa’s. In addition to incredible guitar play, Lars Levin also plays keyboards. At times the keyboards are a bit too vivid, like in the song “Insanity.” It sounds so much like Jan Hammers’ Miami Vice theme song, you can almost see Tubbs and Crockett in action.

Solli on vocals has a great voice; there is almost something majestic with it at times. If there is anything to pick on, it has to be that he sounds a bit whiney and tenacious on “Here In The Air.”

Solli and Levin are Greenhouze, but they have also brought on board some additional musicians: Leif Johansen on backing vocals, Frank Tostrup, and Celio de Carvalho on drums and percussion. Johansen is known from both 21 Guns and world famous A-ha and Tostrup, who normally plays with Shirley’s Temple, and has also written the title song for Gene Simmons’ new solo album Asshole.

Greenhouze have managed to create their own special AOR sound, but at the same time, a lot of their songs resemble ’80s heroes like John Farnham and Mr.Mister. The beautiful ballad “Remember” is a great example of that. Their sound is a bit too clean and nice, with an extremely clear vocal and excessive keyboards. This album is filled with catchy tunes, however, that make you think of both the 80s and the ’90s. Greenhouze is definitely headed down the path to create an album for the mainstream masses.