Izvajalec: Life Line Project
Založba: Samozaložba
Izid: year
Trajanje: 65:03
Ocena: 4.3/5
Life Line Project ima za seboj precej zanimivo zgodovino, sploh kar se tiče glasbenega ustvarjanja vodje Erika de Beera. Odlični multi-inštrumentalist, ki ustvarja glasbo že od sredine sedemdesetih prejšnjega stoletja, je bil ob izdelavi svojega petega albuma “The King” (recenzija) diagnoziran z rakom. To ga je takrat podžgalo, da predstavi svojo glasbeno vizijo karseda široki množici, zato je privlekel na plan stare ideje, ki so se varile že dobrih 30 let, hkrati pa je v svojo glasbeno žilico pognal še nekoliko več krvi, kar je botrovalo k novim in novim zamislicam. Na pol poti izdelave “Kralja” je izvedel, da so zdravniki naredili napako ob diagnozi in da ne gre za smrtno nevarno bolezen, vendar je bila njegova pot kljub presrečni novici že položena – de Beer se je prelevil v svetovnega glasbenika, od katerega se je začelo pričakovati.
“Distorted Memories” je popolnoma drugačen album od pričakovanj. Glede na prejšnje umetnine bi pričakovali še eno progresivnorockovsko simfonijo, vendar nam de Beer in njegovi izbranci postrežejo z moderno fuzijo jazza, rocka in celo folka, s furijo nežnosti, kot ga znata pričarati le jazz in rock, združena v magičen mozaik; folk pristopi samo še popestrijo glasbo. Dobra ura množičnih poskusov iskanja popolne melodije nam dodobra napolni glavo tako s klasičnimi kot tudi z nekoliko drznejšimi pristopi k jazz-rocku ter njegovem mešanju s folkom. Čeprav so določeni vplivi slišni, kljub samosvojemu zvoku “Distorted Memories”. Life Line Project se ne boji stopati po nekaterih poteh velikanov tipa ELP, Genesis, Yes, Mahavishnu Orchestra (zaradi fuzije jazza in rocka) ter recimo Phideaux, ki radi vpletajo prvine folka v svojo rockovsko progresivo.
Album nam ponudi ducat skladb, od noro odštekanih jazzovsko navdahnjenih violinskih norij prek ambientalno grozečih klaviaturskih vihtenj prstov do vokalno naphanih pesmi. Tako nas krajši intro “Ignition” predstavi tej novi podobi Life Line Projecta, sledi pa eksplozivna “Distorted Memories”, simfonična rock retrogresiva, ki nas popelje v sedemdeseta. Nekoliko modernejši poskus moderne progresivne glasbe je “Life Line Suite 2010”, rockovska simfonija, polna pristopov, ki jih najdemo lahko le v klasični glasbi. Z vokalom Maruschka popestri “Frozen Heart,” prijetno, nežno skladbo, ki napolni srce s čustvi. “Caelum Aurum” je ena od drznejših skladb, ki prepleta mnogo žanrov, s čimer ustvarja čudaški, a edinstven kontrapunkt zvoka. “Interlude” nam da nekoliko več časa za kratek vdih ter nam poda roko ob prečkanju sredine albuma. “P. C. Left is Right” je še ena zanimivejših stvaritev. Preteča nevarnost, ki ji vsake toliko časa podivjajo hormoni, je zelo všečen poskus pri nečem svežem, pri mešanju težkega prog rocka in ambienta. “Acoustic Spring” nam ponudi še eno prijetno folkovsko skladbo, v kontrast pa se postavi “Steam Roller”, kjer glasbeni hormoni najdejo de Beerove prste na klaviaturah. Za zaslužen epski zaključek poskrbi “The Final Word”, 13-minutna drama z odlično Maruschko Kartosonto za mikrofonom. Preseneti nas še bonus skladba “The Dancing Dutchess”, ki da še en pogled de Beera na glasbeno ustvarjanje in izpoljnjuje svoj namen bonusa, saj smo do te točke album že vzljubili.
Erik de Beer je z Life Line Projectom na “Distorted Memories” dokončno našel svoj zvok. Jazz, rock, klasiko in folk meša s takšno učinkovitostjo, ki je dandanes le še malokrat slišna. Edina slaba stran so deli, ki delujejo kot “fillerji”, vendar to je ob taki dolžini le pričakovano in celotne slike k sreči ne pokvarijo veliko. Tako šesti Life Line Project album predstavlja velik preskok v scenskem dojemanju de Beerove glasbene genialnosti in mu z svetlo lučjo kaže pot, na katero je stopil iz strahu, jo nadaljeval pogumno, zaključil pa jo bo nedvomno kot junak nizozemske progresivne rock scene.
Life Line Project has quite an interesting history, especially concerning their leader Erik de Beer and his musicianship. The great multi-instrumentalist that has been creating music since the 70’s of the previous century was diagnosed with cancer while working on his fifth album “The King” (review). That gave him all the reasons to present his musical visions to the wider audience, which led him to dig up some of his older ideas and to come up with some new ones. But during the making of “The King” he found out that the doctors made a major mistake and that he will live. Despite this wonderful news, de Beer’s path was already lain – he has evolved into a world musician, which brings expectations.
“Distorted Memories” is a very different album from Life Line Project’s previous ones. The fans were expecting another progressive rock symphony, but de Beer and his band bring together a modern fusion of jazz, rock and even folk music, with a fury of gentleness, which can only be created through the magical combination of jazz and rock; folk only attributes to this great music. A good hour of numerous tries in search of a perfect melody fills our heads with classic and some more experimental approaches to jazz-folk-rock music. Although some of the influences are easily noticeable, like ELP, Genesis, Yes, Mahavishnu Orchestra and even Phideaux. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that.
Album offers us a dozen of tracks, from crazy wicked violin-based jazz and ambiental dark classical works to vocally-full songs. A shorter intro “Ignition” is a fine way to acquaint us with this new Life Line Project and following “Distorted Memories” is a great explosive symphonic retrogressive, full of classical approaches. Maruschka’s vocals give life to “Frozen Heart”, a soft song that will fill your heart with fillings. “Caelum Aurum” is one of those experimental tracks that are interwoven with numerous genres, which create a weird, but unique sound. “Interlude” gives us some time to breathe as it gives us a hand at passing the middle of the album. “P. C. Left is Right” is another very interesting creation. A dangerous horror that gives way to the hormones every now and then is a very likeable try at something fresh and new. “Acoustic Spring” is the second soft song for all those gentler souls and its contrast is “Steam Roller”, where the hormones present themselves in de Beer’s fingers on the keyboards. And because there has to be an epic ending, there is “The Final Word”, a 13-minute long drama featuring Maruschka Kartosonto in the main role. A fine surprise is the bonus track “The Dancing Dutchess”, which gives us another insight into de Beer’s musical mind.
Erik de Beer with his Life Line Project finally found his sound on “Distorted Memories”. Jazz, rock, folk and even classical music are mixed with such and efficiency that is hardly heard these days. Sure, we find some occasional fillers, but that is expected when we face an hour long album. Truth to be told, the sixth Life Line Project album presents a great leap in scene’s perception of de Beer’s group’s musical genius. There is a bright light shining on de Beer’s path, which was started because of fear, has been continued with bravery and will be definitely finished with de Beer as a musical hero.
Zasedba
Maruschka Kartosonto – vokal
Elsa de Beer – flavte
Dineke Visser – oboa
Josine Fraaij – električna in akustična violina
Jason Eekhout – kitare
Jody van der Gijze – kitare, vokal
Erik de Beer – klaviature, kitare, lutnja, mandolina, spremljevalni vokal
Iris Sagan – bas kitare
Ludo de Murlanos – bobni, tolkala, triangel
Produkcija
TASCAM
Seznam skladb
1. Ignition (0:38)
2. Distorted Memories (5:26)
3. Life Line Suite 2010 (9:55)
4. Frozen Heart (4:45)
5. Caelum Aurum (6:44)
6. Interlude (1:20)
7. Reaper Of The Keys (5:39)
8. P.C. Left Is Right ! (5:24)
9. Acoustic Spring (1:59)
10. Steamroller (6:39)
11. The Final Word (13:20)
Bonus skladba:
12. The Dancing Dutchess (2:45)
