H.R. Boss / Banned Lauer

Dear record store buyers, vinyl distribution people, music journalists and download mongers, the power of Lauer is indisputable. Blessed with the uncanny ability to make hooks that would make Bone Thugs-N-Harmony jealous in their heyday, Phillip Lauer is - pardon us - the melody man. His newest tour de force comes in two parts for our beloved Live at Robert Johnson label. Similar sounding to the legendary harmonizer (as if you would care), H.R. Boss is new-romantic-italo-not-italowave that puts love on top of love (i.e. the aforementioned melodies). Wouldn't sound out of place in Sophie Marceau's notorious La Boum Walkman. Forbidden fruit is the sweetest. A little less full-bodied, yet as disarming, Banned goes straight ahead with its ripply bass line, wheezing strings, a killer arrangement that completely deserves the track's name plus a groove that won't stop. Feels like Delta NRG's filthy little brother. Delectable! Put on your red shoes!