GOTHIC IMPRESSIONS

Par Lindh's story with progressive rock goes back in the late 70's.Being trained on piano,organ and drums Par was a member of a couple of prog rock groups,but after the huge fall of the progressive rock movement he decided to purchase a career as a musician of classical music.Studying piano and hapsichord and based in France,he performed all over Europe as a classical composer.But his love for prog rock didn't fade away.By late 80's he was back in Sweden and in 1991 he founded the Swedish Art Rock Society.With the rebirth of prog rock and the presence of excellent groups such as ANGLAGARD and LANDBERK,things were a lot more easier for Par to focus on working on a progressive rock group...

In 1994 Par released his first album under the name of PAR LINDH'S PROJECT with the tithle ''Gothic impressions''.And the result is exactly what you expect from such an experienced musician,a prog rock little gem.His work is very much influenced by RICK WAKEMAN and KEITH EMERSON,but Par also adds his personal touch with all these baroque,medieval,middle age influences,combining all these elements in a perfect way.Keyboard freaks will have the time of their life with this album .Synthesizers ,piano ,mellotron ,hammond but mainly tons of excellent church organ work give Par the title of the ''Keyboards' modern hero''.''Iconoclast'' is a fantastic starter with operatic vocals and grandiose keyboards and organ,while ''Green meadow lands'' is an absolute stunner,a lost GENESIS gem,with Collins-like gentle vocals and beautiful Mellotron.It's time for the epic of the album,what to say,a masterful arrangement.Starting with the thrilling organ,the vocals are added so gently,followed by Par's complex keyboard soli.Melodic guitar solos,ethereal vocals and a great organ theme will end this track up in a dramatic way.A medieval track such as ''Gunnlev's round'' follows as an intro to what I call ''Par Lindh's personal time'' and that is ''Night on bare mountain''.This is maybe the weak point of the album.Of course the musicianship is absolutely masterful,almost every organ that Par has studied is in here,it's almost like a soundtrack of a horror movie with Par playing in a dramatic,complex,almost scary way,but I find this track a little bit excessive in duration and self-confidence.I would prefer again a more symphonic,melodic yet dramatic way by Par Lindh on showing his undenieable skills.

Not much to add.This is for sure an essential album full of great arrangements motivated by classical music,baroque,the middle age and of course 70's prog.I will rate this with 4.5 stars downgraded to 4.Sympho-maniacs have no reason not to add this to their collection.Prog rock fans in general must check this effort out so they will understand why classical music and rock music are so much related....