DISTORTED MEMORIES

A stunning album by a little known band. "Distorted Memories" is the sixth album of the Dutch LIFE LINE PROJECT. It has so much to offer in every progrock way. Take for example the title track. It starts off like a nagging children's song, but soon develops in a heavy Hammond based progrock song with a dazzling electric violin solo by Josine Fraaij and a weirdo guitar solo by Jason Eekhout. As a counterpart the oboe, flute and the acoustic violin provide a more rustic interlude, before the engines start rolling again. "Life Line Suite 2010" is a beautiful symphonic rock instrumental with solid synthesizer solos and majestic guitar melodies. In "Reaper Of The Keys" keyboard player and mastermind Erik de Beer proves, that he can easily compete with the best Emerson. The Hammond roars and the Moog solos are really amazing and overwhelming. The rhythm section, consisting of virtuoso drums, assisted by the bass and a palm muted rhythm guitar, sound solid as a rock. Jason Eekhout composition "Caelum Aurum" reminds me a bit of Jean-Luc Ponty's "Enigmatic Oceans" and shows us the band in a jazz rock setting with some stunning interplay between the electric violin and guitar. An excellent composition. One of the few vocal compositions "P.C. Left is Right" contains both a splendid Moog solo and a great tapping solo on the lead guitar and is one of the more heavy songs on the album. "The Final Word" is a great symphonic rock song of more than thirteen minutes, full of atmosphere and tempo changes and leaving enough room for the soloists to prove their skills. I liked the flute and oboe parts a lot. The vocals are beautiful sung by Maruschka Kartosonto. The album ends with the adaptation of an anonymous Dutch folksong, "Hop Marjanneke", a great finale for a fantastic album. I liked "Distorted Memories" a lot and I hope many people will enjoy listening to this little known band. Life Line Project have a true sound of their own and I think they deserve five stars. Whistler.