ARMENIA

After a year, keyboard wizard Erik de Beer and his band release a new album, this time dedicated to the valiant people of Armenia who suffered one of the most criminal massacres in hands of the Ottoman government of the Young Turks. This holocaust also called Medz Yeghern (Great Crime) ended with the deportation and death of an undetermined number of Armenian civilians calculated between 1.5 and 2 million. But to make it worst and due to the continuous denial of Turkey only 20 nations and 42 USA states have accepted to consider this massacre as a genocide, so this album is a tribute for victims that have been forgotten for almost a century.

But we are here to talk of music, so after this short introduction, let's return to the album.

Armenia is opened by the vibrant New Flight, a song that reminds me of ELP due to the fantastic keyboard pyrotechnics of Erik, but this time well supported by the strong vocals of Marion Brinkman who adds a jazzy touch. A breathtaking start for a great album.

Let Your Outside Show Me marks a dramatic contrast, this time the use of piano and acoustic guitar combined with a beautiful melody serve as a relax for the audience after the frenetic opener. The band is impeccable, but again I have to focus in Marion Brinkman, who demonstrates her versatility adding a sweet touch to enhance the music.

Another Deadline starts as pure rock with a brilliant Ludo de Murlanos in the percussion, but as the song progresses, the radical changes begin and Erik takes a more preeminent role with the keys. After this, you can expect anything with pompous and brilliant Moog passages interrupted by soft melodic sections.

I could go song by song, but would take hours, because I don't find a weak moment, so I will pass directly to the 'Piece of Resistance''The Armenia Suite, not without mentioning the incredibly beautiful Moment where the combination of acoustic guitars and keys, makes it memorable.

The suite is divided in four parts:

1.- Ararat (The Origin), a melodic and almost acoustic intro where the piano takes the lead, until Erik goes to his keyboards to add a nostalgic atmosphere blended with some sort of military march and an Emersonian fugue. Places the listener in the mood for the rest of the suite

2.- - Deir Ez Zor (The March) is so soft and sentimental that almost breaks my heart, but of course some strong dramatic moments reminds us of the terrible massacre. This time Marion Brinkman returns to her uncommon style that always puzzles me.

3.- Exile (Hope) continues in the vein of the previous, allowing the piano and vocals to replace the synths , again dramatic and heartbreaking.

4.- The album is closed by Jerevan (Resurrection), theperfect finale for an excellent album, everything a Proghead wants to listen is here.

I must admit that I'm a fan of the band, so it's hard to rate the album without looking as a fanboy, but honestly I believe this is the best LIFE LINE PROJECT release, or at least in the level of Distorted Memories, which I considered a 5 stars work, so I will have to go with the same rating.