TIME MIRROR

Returning after some 9 years away Par Lindh returns with a new line up and a new attitude. There was a music DVD released last year but that was mainly a retread of earlier works with a small amount of new material. This CD has 4 new tracks as well as a new drummer (AL Lewis) compared to the DVD line up although the excellent bass guitarist William Kopecky is still in attendance. This three peice line is clearly designed to indulge Par Lindh's love of all things keyboard with very obvious nods to Keith Emerson and ELP.The 17 minute title track could easily be Emerson with all the flourishes and bombast you associate with that legend. The sound though is much more modern Emerson and not to be confused with symphonic prog like Tarkus and Pirates. This is closer to the style of Emerson's solo album recorded recently with Marc Bonilla although with a bit more power and energy. Another difference is the vocalist (Al Lewis doubling up) who sounds remarkably like Jon Anderson. Lindh prefers his vocalists to be on the higher ranges. The title track also features a reworking of ELP's version Peter Gunn and very nice it is. Good stuff and an absolute stonking start to the album.

The next track Waltz Street is my favourite on the whole album. How much fun can you pack into 4 and 1/2 minutes? Tons apparently. Really nice upright piano from Par and superb playing from all. Conjures up images of depression era America but brought into the modern setting with the global meltdown et al.

After this I feel that the album takes a bit of downturn. With Death Reconciled is actually beginning to get a bit irritiating after 4-5 listens with just too much repitition for my liking although it is redeemed by some nice organ work (Hammond and church).

Finally comes the only instrumental on the album Sky Door. Quite a nice peice of music but lacking enough content to make it really interesting. Nice keyboard sound and bang on the money drumming but after a while this could become a tad boring.

In summation this is very good borderline excellent keyboard prog album.Not the best thing Par Lindh has ever done (probably about third of the four PLP studio albums) . Objectively this should rate at about 3.5 stars but I'll round up as is my want and because there is so little keyboard driven stuff out there worth talking about.