20 YEARS AFTER

One of my favourites of 2012. Album number eight by the Dutch Life Line Project contains a one hour lasting rock epic, called "The True Tale Of Duplo The Equivalent", a story full of humour and beautiful symphonic themes. Not a complicated story of interstellar conflicts and incomprehensible futuristic story lines, but a simple fairy tale about a little green-haired and one eyed little guy, who refuses to conform himself to the silly rules of equality of communism and the like wise silly rules of fashion dictated capitalism. The story line is told straight forward, is full of comic allusions to other musical syles and lyrics, but the main purpose has obviously been delivering a beautiful piece of symphonic rock, full of magnificent themes, to tell a simple tale.

The major role on 20 Years After is assigned to the keyboards of the mastermind and founder-member of the project, Erik de Beer, who once more is delivering a large quantity of Moog, Hammond and piano solo's. This time he is also responsible for all guitar parts. Some great Hackettian examples can be enjoyed in songs like "Happiness" and "Move Out".

Another instrumental feature of Life Line Project is the use of a rich woodwind section, consisting of flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon, whose warm and folk like interventions are so important for the warmness of the characteristic LLP-sound.

The vocals by Marion Brinkman-Stroetinga are of excellent quality and underline the folk character of the project. Her voice is so appropriate for this type of melodic and straight forward symphonic rock.

Another highlight on this album is the beautiful acoustic song "Worries", to me one of the most beautiful Life Line Project songs, well sung and with a great piano part.

This is an album that confirms the individuality of the Life Line Project sound and I can only advise those who love their symphonic rock melodious and harmonious, to take the time to listen to this album.

Izabelle