TAYLOR'S UNIVERSE

Robin Taylor is undoubtfully the most important and prolific figure of the modern Danish prog scene.He was born in 1956 in Kopenhagen and became a skilled composer, multi- instrumentalist and producer throughout the years.In 1988 he met keyboardist Jan Marsfeldt, with whom he recorded his first solo album in 1991 but also formed Taylor's Universe in 1993 along with a third member, drummer Mads Hansen.Taylor established also his own Marvel of Beauty Records around the time, on which he released the eponymous debut of Taylor's Universe.

With some help on guitars and wind instruments by session musicians, the trio presented an eclectic Progressive/Jazz Rock style on this album with a versatile approach and lots of different themes.There is some complex Jazz/Fusion ideas thrown in, bordering to demanding Avant-Prog at moments, not fully supported by the average sound of keyboards, but nevertheless with some nice parts here and there.The more melodic approach with the trumpets on the forefront remind a bit of MIRIODOR.But Taylor shows also his Classic Prog roots in a number of pieces with grandiose and very atmospheric keys, complicated guitar lines and shifting moods and these are quite close to the adventurous sound of ECHOLYN or FINNES GAUGE.Despite its complexity the album has plenty of melodic passages to balance the more challenging ideas and Taylor delivered also a different side of himself in a few tracks, bordering with Free Jazz, Electronic or RIO.Of course all these different musical directions hurt the coherence of the release, but the result is more than positive at the end.

This is where the word ''eclectic'' finds its meaning.''Taylor's Universe'' is a great album for anyone searching for some Progressive Rock with diversity and comes at least recommended as a whole to the prog audience in general.