“Impressions”, the Best of Last Autumn's Dream, does just what the title would suggest and provides the listener with a flavour of all four albums that constitute Last Autumn’s Dreams career to date. The band started back in 2004 with a self-titled debut and an original line up of Mikael Erlandsson on vocals,  Andy Malecek (ex Fair Warning) on guitar, together with the Europe rhythm section of John Leven (bass), Ian Haughland (drums) and Mic Michaeli (keyboards). However, due to their Europe commitments the latter three were replaced by Marcel Jacob (bass) and Jamie Borger (drums) both from Talisman, along with Thomas Lasser from Crystal Blue on keyboards for 2005’s second album which was simply named “II”. Since then the line up has only seen one further change as Lasser left and Erlandsson took on the keyboard role in addition to lead vocals and two further albums, “Winter In Paradise” (2006) and *Saturn Skyline” (2007) emerged from the four piece.

What you get on “Impressions” is 16 songs of quality melodic rock consisting of three tracks from each of the first three albums and a total of five tracks from 2007’s “Saturn Skyline”. There’s a good balance between the faster tempo songs such as “Again and Again”, “Running”, “After Tomorrows Gone” and the excellent “Pages”, through to  ballads like “Going Home” and “Brand New Life”. All these songs are steeped in the classic elements of melodic rock, as Erlandsson’s powerful vocal is complimented by the wailing guitar sound mastered so well by Malecek.

Two additional tracks are included, “Rocket Of Love”, an outtake from the “Saturn Skyline” sessions and “Doin’ Time”, which was only available of the European release of the debut album and both deserve inclusion. All in all a good collection that makes a great introduction to the band for new fans but it is the addition of the limited edition second CD (only available on the first pressing) that will grab the attention of current fans.

“Live In Germany” contains a further ten tracks, the first eight of which were recorded when the band played the “United Forces Of Rock” festival at Rockfabrik, Ludwigsburg in September 2007. Last Autumn’s Dream amply demonstrate that they can translate their smooth studio sound into the live arena. Erlandsson’s voice has a slightly raspier quality live and it really suits the material in the set-list, which is drawn mainly from the band’s last two releases.

They open with a driving version of “For The Young and The Wild” and keep the pace going with “After Tomorrow’s Gone” and “Pages”, which offer an interesting comparison with their studio counterparts on CD1. By the time the set peaks on “Rock’n Roll Is Saving My Soul” the crowd are singing along and the band leave the stage following a triumphant version of “Again and Again”. This band would make a worthy addition to any Firefest line-up. To complete the second CD there are two studio recorded bonus songs “When You Love Somebody”, which is a piano led ballad that brings real emotion out of Erlandsson’s voice. Final offering is a straight forward Jamie Borger penned rocker called “You Won’t See Me Cry”.

2008 will see Last Autumn’s Dream release their fifth studio album and it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Let us know your views on Impressions & Live In Germany

Track Listing

Impressions – The Very Best Of LAD

Again And Again
Break The Chains (Of Destiny)
Pages
Up In Paradise
Love To Go
Going Home
Winter In Paradise
Brand New Life
After Tomorrow’s Gone
Don’t Let Our Love Go Down
Rocket Of Love
American Girl
Domino
Running
Doin’ Time
Skyscrapper

Live In Germany

For The Young And The Wild
After Tomorrow’s Gone
Pages
Heat Of Emotion
Love To Go
It’s Alright
Rock’n Roll Is Saving My Soul
Again And Again
When You Love Someone
You Won’t See My Cry

Line Up

Mikael Erlandsson - Vocals
Andy Malecek - Guitar
Marcel Jacob - Bass
Jamie Borger - Drums