RETROSPECTIVE

"Retrospective" is the debut full-length studio album by Norwegian progressive rock act Retroheads. The album was released through Unicorn Records in 2004. Retroheads was formed by Tore Bø Bendixen (vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards) in 2003. The lineup also includes Bendixen´s wife Ann-Kristin Bendixen on vocals.

Retroheads is a very fitting band name when it comes to the musical ideas on "Retrospective". The music is heavily influenced by 70s progressive rock. The first thing I thought about when listening to this album was the contemporaries in The Flower Kings. Retroheads have a similar retro-progressive rock sound even though they are not quite as accomplished and eclectic as The Flower Kings. The comparison between those two bands is boasted even further by the fact that Tore Bø Bendixen has a very similar voice and singing style to Roine Stolt. He is assisted by his wife who sings mostly some Pink Floyd inspired backing vocals. So in many ways Retroheads is a retro band inspired by another retro band (and of course by 70s progressive rock artists like Pink Floyd and Camel). This is potentially dangerous, but Retroheads do pull it off with conviction.

The music is as mentioned heavily influenced by 70s symphonic progressive rock and the tracks are generally both pleasant, intriguing, and powerful. The vocal parts are pretty well done and the tracks also feature many great instrumental interludes and soloing. All tracks more or less feature the same atmopshere and mid-paced tempo, and a bit more variation would have been welcome in those departments. "Retrospective" is well produced and overall it´s a good quality progressive rock album, although you won´t find much here you haven´t heard before (and often better and more unique). A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.