MUNDUS INCOMPERTUS

Par Lindh's contribution to the renaissance of Progressive Rock has finally taken shape in mid-90's after he set the seeds a few years back.More dedicated to his own composing material he released the EP ''Rondo'' in 1995 and the idea of forming a more stable line-up started circulating in his head.Inbetween he found time to collaborate with Björn Johansson in the Tolkien-inspired album ''Bilbo'', released in 1996.About the same time he established a solid core for a new release under the Par Lindh Project moniker.Singer Magdalena Hagberg and guitarist Jocke Ramsell were upgraded to this formation, which also included bassist Marcus Jaederholm and drummer Nisse Bielfeld.The second work by the group was again recorded at the Crimsonic Studios and published in 1997 under the title ''Mundus Incompertus''.

The whole thing is about three long tracks of keyboard-driven Symphonic Rock, however the first kicker ''Baroque Impression No. 1'' with its succesful title showcases Lindh's strong Baroque influences with an updated heavy electric guitar sound at moments, but always twisting around the group's leader's fiery, cinematic and orchestral arrangements.Filled with nostalgic harsichord, grandiose church organ and powerful Hammond organ fanfares, it displays Lindh's impressive Classical background.''The Crimson Shield'' is a completely different story.Smooth, Medieval-styled music, led almost exclusively by Lindh's mellow work on piano and harsichord and featuring Hagberg's angelic vocals all the way.Hagberg and her dreamy vocal colors will also kick off the 21-min. title-track, which comes as a combination of the two previous styles, mixing Medieval soundscapes with powerful, keyboard-drenched Symphonic Rock and Baroque influences.Bands like E.L.P., LE ORME and TRIUMVIRAT are the obvious inspirations here and Lindh often appears as if putting up a personal show with emphatic organ and synth acrobatics, based on plenty of virtuosic solos.The music is still very compentent with great drums and some cool electric guitars around.The atmosphere ranges from romantic to cinematic to extremely self-indulgent with long, technical deliveries, haunting chants, romantic soundscapes and rapid tempo changes but unfortunately the lovely melodies from their debut have been left aside.The grandiose passages with the Mellotron and the moments the group works as a balanced team seem to be the most interesting ones, although Lindh's personal keyboard offerings contain also plenty of challenging textures.

Solid Symphonic Rock of the old school, headed by E.L.P., with everlasting keyboard lines and solos.Not as great as the group's debut, but still a very nice album, especially considering the transitional period of its release.Recommended to all fans of Symphonic/Classical-styled Rock and Retro Prog.