UK – The Great Beyond
Danish keyboard wiz Lars Boutrup evokes organ grinders of a bygone age. In doing so he also fashions his own version of classic keyboard-led rock. ‘The Great Beyond’ is quite simply highly addictive.
There is nothing quite like hearing a Hammond organ played really well and within a tight song structure. ‘Mr. T’ is essentially the album’s opening blast and is a perfect showcase for Boutrup’s compositional and musical talents. A six minute workout that also evokes the very best that this genre has produced.
‘Whatever Mama Said’ could be some long lost sci-fi theme with deft orchestration punctuated by Spike Nior’s “Let There Be Drums” beats. Similarly ‘Dripping Cycles’ sounds like something you might hear as the end credits roll. It should come as no surprise, then, that Boutrup has composed the music or played to more than 200 silent movie pictures in Scandinavia.
If you like the albums that Geoff Downes (Yes, Asia) produced under the New Dance Orchestra moniker you will like this. ‘The Great Beyond’ manages to not only evoke seventies bands such as the Dutch jazzy prog rockers Trace but create a groove and contemporary vibe of its own. ****
Reviewed by: David Randall