PA's Artist of the Week (week 8) Trace

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From Netherlands (Holland) one of my preferred bands:

TRACE
Now is the week for these bands.

For starting discussion two review of "Trace":

TRACE — Trace
Review by
erik neuteboom
(erik neuteboom)

SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Prog Expert

Dutch keyboard-wizard Rick got worldwide recognition with the ‘classic-rock formula’ from
EKSEPTION but he wanted his own band to work out his own ideas. He founded TRACE
with bass player Jaap van Eik (CUBY AND THE BLIZZARDS, The MOTIONS, SOLUTION,
LIVING BLUES) and drummer Pierre van der Linden (TEE SET, BRAINBOX, FOCUS), a real
Dutch supergroup. TRACE sounds like the Dutch equivalent to early ELP but Rick has a
wider array of keyboards, including Hammond B3 organ, Hohner clavinet and pianet, ARP –
and EMI synthesizers, harpsichord, Solina string-ensemble, Mellotron and church organ. He
even used the sound of a bagpipe. The music on the eponymous debut album is a treat for
fans from bands like The NICE, ELP, TRIUMVIRAT and early LE ORME. It delivers exciting,
often sumptuous, keyboard driven symphonic rock: the mainly instrumental music is loaded
with virtuosic keyboard runs, swirling Hammond organ and majestic Mellotron, supported
by a powerful and propulsive rhythm-section. The Musea CD-release contains two
bonustracks (“Progress” and “Tabu”) and the history of Trace with nice pictures.
Recommended to all progheads who want to be blown away by ‘keyboard pyrotechnics’ in
the vein of Keith Emerson, Patrick Moraz or Toshio Egawa (from GERARD).

TRACE — Trace
Review by
Vibrationbaby
(Ian Gledhill)

PROG REVIEWER 

Often compared to ELP just as German band Triumvirat were because of similar
instrumentation ( keyboard array/bass/drums ), Holland`s Trace appeared at the zenith
of the progressive rock mid-seventies glory years. While there is no doubt fans of
ELP will eat this up right away and critics will be quick to write this off as an ELP
copycat band there are essental differences which must be considered here.

At first it might sound a lot like Focus because of Pierre van der Linden`s distinct
stylings and sound until Rick van der Linden`s keyboard explolsions really start to
fire off with dazzling speed and time fluctuations with no vocals to get in
the way on this one. But forgoe any notion that this will be a go nuts Rick band as
both Van Eik on bass and Van der Linden on drums had been involved in the Dutch rock
music scene since the late sixties and acquit themselves superbly with a tight
rythmn section performance. We even get to hear a drum solo from Pierre which is
quicker and not as tedious as the one found on the Focus III album. 

As with many progressive rock keyboard players in the 70`s Van Der Linden, who was
classically trained, raids some classics and also adds some jazz and rocks it out a
little more than his contemporaries with seemingly boundless energy, much more so
than the albums he made with his previous band Ekseption. No horns or saxes here,
just pure electricity flowing from his arsenal of Keyboards and effects.Just about
every keyboard available to the prog keyboard player at the time can be heard on this
masterpiece at one time or another.

A great variation on the keyboard-wizard/drums/bass theme wil have any 70`s keyboard
freak drooling like a komodo dragon.

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Mandrakeroot Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Italian Prog Specialist Joined: March 01 2006 Location: San Foca, Friûl Status: Offline Points: 5851	Topic: PA's Artist of the Week (week 8) Trace Posted: October 06 2007 at 18:08
	From Netherlands (Holland) one of my preferred bands: TRACE Now is the week for these bands. For starting discussion two review of "Trace": TRACE — Trace Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Prog Expert Dutch keyboard-wizard Rick got worldwide recognition with the ‘classic-rock formula’ from EKSEPTION but he wanted his own band to work out his own ideas. He founded TRACE with bass player Jaap van Eik (CUBY AND THE BLIZZARDS, The MOTIONS, SOLUTION, LIVING BLUES) and drummer Pierre van der Linden (TEE SET, BRAINBOX, FOCUS), a real Dutch supergroup. TRACE sounds like the Dutch equivalent to early ELP but Rick has a wider array of keyboards, including Hammond B3 organ, Hohner clavinet and pianet, ARP – and EMI synthesizers, harpsichord, Solina string-ensemble, Mellotron and church organ. He even used the sound of a bagpipe. The music on the eponymous debut album is a treat for fans from bands like The NICE, ELP, TRIUMVIRAT and early LE ORME. It delivers exciting, often sumptuous, keyboard driven symphonic rock: the mainly instrumental music is loaded with virtuosic keyboard runs, swirling Hammond organ and majestic Mellotron, supported by a powerful and propulsive rhythm-section. The Musea CD-release contains two bonustracks (“Progress” and “Tabu”) and the history of Trace with nice pictures. Recommended to all progheads who want to be blown away by ‘keyboard pyrotechnics’ in the vein of Keith Emerson, Patrick Moraz or Toshio Egawa (from GERARD). TRACE — Trace Review by Vibrationbaby (Ian Gledhill) PROG REVIEWER Often compared to ELP just as German band Triumvirat were because of similar instrumentation ( keyboard array/bass/drums ), Holland`s Trace appeared at the zenith of the progressive rock mid-seventies glory years. While there is no doubt fans of ELP will eat this up right away and critics will be quick to write this off as an ELP copycat band there are essental differences which must be considered here. At first it might sound a lot like Focus because of Pierre van der Linden`s distinct stylings and sound until Rick van der Linden`s keyboard explolsions really start to fire off with dazzling speed and time fluctuations with no vocals to get in the way on this one. But forgoe any notion that this will be a go nuts Rick band as both Van Eik on bass and Van der Linden on drums had been involved in the Dutch rock music scene since the late sixties and acquit themselves superbly with a tight rythmn section performance. We even get to hear a drum solo from Pierre which is quicker and not as tedious as the one found on the Focus III album. As with many progressive rock keyboard players in the 70`s Van Der Linden, who was classically trained, raids some classics and also adds some jazz and rocks it out a little more than his contemporaries with seemingly boundless energy, much more so than the albums he made with his previous band Ekseption. No horns or saxes here, just pure electricity flowing from his arsenal of Keyboards and effects.Just about every keyboard available to the prog keyboard player at the time can be heard on this masterpiece at one time or another. A great variation on the keyboard-wizard/drums/bass theme wil have any 70`s keyboard freak drooling like a komodo dragon.