MODINHA

One of my favourite keyboard dominated albums. Those who get high on fat analogue Moog sounds old style should take a listen to this instrumental Life Line Project album. The album even contains a song dedicated to the memory of the late Bob Moog.

LIFE LINE PROJECT, a project built around keyboard-wizard Erik de Beer, are presenting us an album containing 15 instrumental compositions with a maximum length of 7:37. Don't think the music is skipping from one musical subject to another, because the album is kept together by a beautiful central theme, called Modinha, which seems to be in the style of a Brazilian sad song.

This theme is returning in at least five of the songs presented, starting with a beautiful symphonic "Inicio" with a beautiful Moog whistle as a main melody instrument. A jazz piano version is presented with the Jazz Intermezzo, containing a splendid piano improvisation over this melancholic Modinha theme. The most elaborate version is undoubtedly the Modinha- Final, which starts with a solo flute, soon extended to a flute/oboe & piano trio, to be followed by a full band progressive rock version and which ends in a folk based acoustic orgasm, featuring a mandolin solo sustained by a medieval drum, a harpsichord and a throbbing bass.

This is a very keyboard orientated album, but there are also two lead guitarists featured and don't think that they are drowning in the keyboards, just listen to the twin solo's in songs like Joy and Dark Procession. Guitarist Jason Eekhout is also responsible for the two only compositions that aren't written by Erik de Beer: the jazz-rock orientated composition "Subjective Object", perhaps not the most brilliant composition on the album, but giving enough proof of the skills of Jason and the fantastic "The Chase", one hot minute of instrumental fury presented by the flute, two guitars and an acoustic piano.

Every now and then the electric wizardry is interrupted by short interventions by the two woodwind players (Elsa de Beer on flute & Dineke Visser on oboe) to supply us with an oasis of peace and introspection. The oboe dominated "Sonho" is perhaps one of the finest compositions on the album.

My favourites (as a seasoned Moog freak) on this fantastic album are "Keeper of the Keys" (dedicated to Moog), "Quasar" and "Another Dayride" with great interplay between Moog and Hammond.

A must for keyboard lovers!!

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