A Lifeline in Modern Progressive Rock
Life Line Project is a group that has went unnoticed for quite some time, but hopefully Distorted Memories will change that. The fifth album from Erik de Beer's brainchild is surely one to go down in the books. In a sea of Genesis and Yes clones, Life Line Project has created a unique and distinct sound that should be heard immediately by all prog rock lovers. From the lush instrumentation, jazzy improvisation, and traditional folk influences, Distorted Memories is one of the most unique, and best, symphonic progressive rock albums I've heard this year. If you're into mostly instrumental prog rock with lots of variation, I can't recommend this album enough.
Although Life Line Project has a unique sound, they are never afraid to pay homage to the great prog musicians of the seventies. On this album, you will hear influences from ELP, Genesis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and various other prog and jazz rock bands. Fortunately, never once does Life Line Project ever sound like a blatant rip-off of any one band. The sections with crazy violin parts especially remind me of Jerry Goodman from Mahavishnu Orchestra, which is always a good thing in my opinion. One small complaint I have with this album is the playing time. At 65 minutes, a little bit of filler is somewhat inevitable, even though it is thankfully kept to a minimum. All of the songs are strong in some way or another, though my favorite is probably "Reaper of the Keys", in which Erik de Beer proves his keyboard wizardry. The man is simply a fantastic musician, and when listening to this song, it's rather hard to deny it. I also really like the folky feel of "Acoustic Spring". The rather brief opening, "Ignition", and its successor "Distorted Memories" are also both highlights.
As a whole, the musicianship is great. Erik de Beer is usually in the spotlight, but every other musician is fantastic as well. The drums and guitars especially stand out to me, but it's also always a treat when Elsa de Beer's flute or Dineke Visser's oboe appear in the mix. My only complaint is that when the vocals are present, it seems these songs are not quite as good as the instrumentals. Maybe it's because the vocal melodies are sometimes rather weak (especially in "P.C. Left Is Right"). Still, it's hard to deny the greatness of the instrumental portion that ends this track.
The production is really good as well. It has a distinct 70's vibe with some modern touches, which makes for a nice sound in my opinion.
Conclusion:
Distorted Memories was a great entrance for me into the wonderful world of the Life Line Project. If you like progressive rock, and are looking for a new album that's not a half-baked re-hash of stuff you've already heard, pick this album up as soon as possible. This will be among the top prog rock albums of 2010; I can assure you that! 4 stars are deserved for this modern success.
Track Listing
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 Track :
12. The Dancing Dutchess (2:45)
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 65:03
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