ON-PLUGGED IN ELSINORE (WITH PETER FRIIS NIELSEN)

Hello, I'm Pierre, the violin player heard on this record. I would like to draw your attention on the following. This album is one of my favourites from the five we made with the band. Even if the direct mix is far from perfect - it has a negative cost in that the drums are way too behind - the recording succeeded in catching the raw energy deployed that day. There are amazing voice crossings where instruments play hide and catch; on one tune, Peter's bass is nearly walking together with two violin voices, one being sampled and looped, the other played directly on top; they are so close to each other in their sonic nature that you don't know for sure what's the bass and what's the violin! And then later, the violin sounds like a sustained guitar or was it the reverse way? Kalle's sampled arsenal is, as said, not perfectly caught on tape but you'll be able to listen to all the crazy sounds he displayed for the occasion; he was a wonderful actor for our imaginery musical cinema! Robin and myself were shaping quite unreal pictures with our instruments and a hella electronics while Peter and Kalle were shaking them, always pushing us all to modify the kaleidoscope and Karsten was wailing on top or lurking in the background, preparing the next sonic attack. 6 years have passed since this concert took place; I still listen to it and find new details that I didn't notice before; or maybe the imagery has its own life and changes according to our state of mind when listening!

I do hope that you will one day discover this album ... or the band ... and that the images one more time will come to life in your ears, your head, your body and soul! Let us know your thoughts!

We had a great time doing it and a hard time fighting for it; it was nominated in 2004 to the Danish awards in the category "best record of the year", it got plenty of positive reviews on the net but we got stuck in Denmark with pride and no work. The band more or less ceased to breathe in 2006 after the recording of our last album "Manipulated by Taylor". But On- Plugged in Elsinore still vibrates in my ears and has a special place in me. I hope it will work in a similar way for YOU!

Pierre Tassone

This is the 12th Taylor's Free Universe album, where they joined bassist Peter Fris Nielsen for a concert of improvised and eclectic jazz. As with all other TFU releases, this is either a masterpiece or something that you would play just a few seconds of before using the disc as a gun target. There really is no middle ground with these guys, you either love them or hate them and I definitely fall into the former camp. The musicianship, as always, is incredible and the interplay between the five musicians is awesome. Peter is a great bassist, but what really makes this album work is the way that all of the guys can (and do) take the lead, driving the band along before it is time for someone else to define the path. There are times when all of the guys seem to be at the front, all vying to be heard, but it all still works. 'Picnic At Moon' features some great violin, both bowed and plucked, but within the background is a maelstrom of sound from the rest ' all of which works to make this an incredible tour de force to my ears, although it may not seem the same to everyone.

I don't think Robin knows how to release a bad album, this is yet another killer and when released in 2004 was nominated for a Danish Jazz Award. But, if you want your jazz to be mild and meek and behave itself then be warned, this is not like that!

This was a live concert done by Robin Taylor and his band and it features bassist Peter Friis Nielen. We also get Karsten Vogel on sax, Pierre Tassone on violin and Kalle Mathiesen on drums. Robin adds guitar and electronics. I should mention that these are improvs and the music is for the most part minimalistic and difficult. At least for me this is difficult music to get into. Not a lot of melody.Some refer to this as experimental Free Jazz. This was up for an award at the Demnark Music Awards.

"Amalie" has what sounds like picked guitar and bass that come and go. Sax before 2 minutes as the bass continues. Cymbals 3 minutes in and violin replaces the sax around 6 minutes.Tough going. "Picnic At Noon" is minimalistic and eventually various sounds start to come and go. No melody. The mood turns dark and the guitar comes to the fore late along with violin.

"Tight Little Waves" is again a track with not much going on. Sax before a minute and bass becomes more prominant after 4 minutes. "The Fifth Element" is significant as a title, and if you've ever visited the Progressor web-site you'll be familiar with this term. Actually it's Robin's user name on another site as well. Sax and violin eventually lead then the guitar and bass take over. Sax is back after 7 minutes as the song slowly evolves and changes.

"Exit Elsinore" and the final track are the two songs I can enjoy. This one is dark and spooky and sax comes in just before 2 minutes. Some vocal expressions before 8 1/2 minutes. Drums come to the fore after 10 1/2 minutes. Sax a minute later as the haunting atmosphere continues. "Train" opens with sax and these bass sounds that come and go.It starts to pick up before 1 1/2 minutes. Best part of the album right here as the guitar grinds it out. Sax is back after 3 minutes. It gets more intense after 5 minutes.Violin before 7 minutes. It settles back later.

So a good album but if I want to listen to this style of music I would be inclined to reach for something else.