Artist: Life Line Project
Label: Self-released
Released: 2010
Length: 65:03
Rating: 4.3/5
Life Line Project has a pretty interesting history behind them, especially when it comes to the music-making of frontman Erik de Beer. A superb multi-instrumentalist who’s been making music since the mid-seventies, he was diagnosed with cancer while working on his fifth album “The King” (review). That lit a fire under him to get his musical vision out to as wide an audience as possible, so he dragged out old ideas that had been brewing for a good 30 years, while pumping even more blood into his musical veins, which spawned idea after idea. Halfway through making “The King” he learned the doctors had screwed up the diagnosis and it wasn’t a life-threatening illness. But despite the happy news, his path had already been laid out: de Beer had turned into a world-class musician, one people had started to expect big things from.
“Distorted Memories” is a completely different album from what you’d expect. Judging by the earlier gems, you’d think it would be another progressive rock symphony, but de Beer and his chosen few serve up a modern fusion of jazz, rock and even folk, with a fury of tenderness that only jazz and rock can conjure, fused into a magical mosaic; the folk touches only spice up the music. A good hour of countless attempts at finding the perfect melody fills our heads with classic as well as somewhat bolder takes on jazz-rock and its mixing with folk. Although certain influences are audible, “Distorted Memories” still has a sound all its own. Life Line Project isn’t afraid to walk some of the paths of giants like ELP, Genesis, Yes, Mahavishnu Orchestra (for the jazz-rock fusion), or say Phideaux, who love to weave folk elements into their progressive rock.
The album offers a dozen tracks, from wildly off-the-wall, jazz-inspired violin madness through ambient, menacing keyboard finger-wizardry to vocal-packed songs. The short intro “Ignition” introduces us to this new face of Life Line Project, followed by the explosive “Distorted Memories”, a symphonic rock retrogression that takes us back to the seventies. A somewhat more modern stab at modern progressive music is “Life Line Suite 2010”, a rock symphony packed with approaches you’d normally only find in classical music. Maruschka’s vocals spice up “Frozen Heart,” a pleasant, gentle track that fills your heart with feels. “Caelum Aurum” is one of the bolder tracks, weaving together many genres to create an oddball yet unique counterpoint of sound. “Interlude” gives us a bit more time for a quick breather and offers a hand across the middle of the album. “P. C. Left is Right” is another of the more interesting creations. The looming menace, whose hormones run wild every now and then, is a very likable attempt at something fresh, blending heavy prog rock and ambient. “Acoustic Spring” offers another pleasant folky track, with “Steam Roller” as the contrast, where the musical hormones find de Beer’s fingers on the keys. The well-earned epic closer is “The Final Word”, a 13-minute drama with the excellent Maruschka Kartosonto on the mic. And we get one more surprise in the bonus track “The Dancing Dutchess”, which gives yet another look at de Beer’s approach to making music and does exactly what a bonus should, since by that point we’ve already fallen in love with the album.
Erik de Beer has finally found his sound with Life Line Project on “Distorted Memories”. He blends jazz, rock, classical and folk with an efficiency that’s rarely heard these days. The only downside is the stretches that feel like “fillers”, but with a runtime like this that’s only to be expected, and luckily they don’t spoil the big picture much. So the sixth Life Line Project album is a huge leap in how the scene sees de Beer’s musical genius, shining a bright light on the path he first set out on out of fear, continued bravely, and will undoubtedly finish as a hero of the Dutch progressive rock scene.
Life Line Project has quite an interesting history, especially concerning their leader Erik de Beer and his musicianship. The great multi-instrumentalist that has been creating music since the 70’s of the previous century was diagnosed with cancer while working on his fifth album “The King” (review). That gave him all the reasons to present his musical visions to the wider audience, which led him to dig up some of his older ideas and to come up with some new ones. But during the making of “The King” he found out that the doctors made a major mistake and that he will live. Despite this wonderful news, de Beer’s path was already lain – he has evolved into a world musician, which brings expectations.
“Distorted Memories” is a very different album from Life Line Project’s previous ones. The fans were expecting another progressive rock symphony, but de Beer and his band bring together a modern fusion of jazz, rock and even folk music, with a fury of gentleness, which can only be created through the magical combination of jazz and rock; folk only attributes to this great music. A good hour of numerous tries in search of a perfect melody fills our heads with classic and some more experimental approaches to jazz-folk-rock music. Although some of the influences are easily noticeable, like ELP, Genesis, Yes, Mahavishnu Orchestra and even Phideaux. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that.
Album offers us a dozen of tracks, from crazy wicked violin-based jazz and ambiental dark classical works to vocally-full songs. A shorter intro “Ignition” is a fine way to acquaint us with this new Life Line Project and following “Distorted Memories” is a great explosive symphonic retrogressive, full of classical approaches. Maruschka’s vocals give life to “Frozen Heart”, a soft song that will fill your heart with fillings. “Caelum Aurum” is one of those experimental tracks that are interwoven with numerous genres, which create a weird, but unique sound. “Interlude” gives us some time to breathe as it gives us a hand at passing the middle of the album. “P. C. Left is Right” is another very interesting creation. A dangerous horror that gives way to the hormones every now and then is a very likeable try at something fresh and new. “Acoustic Spring” is the second soft song for all those gentler souls and its contrast is “Steam Roller”, where the hormones present themselves in de Beer’s fingers on the keyboards. And because there has to be an epic ending, there is “The Final Word”, a 13-minute long drama featuring Maruschka Kartosonto in the main role. A fine surprise is the bonus track “The Dancing Dutchess”, which gives us another insight into de Beer’s musical mind.
Erik de Beer with his Life Line Project finally found his sound on “Distorted Memories”. Jazz, rock, folk and even classical music are mixed with such and efficiency that is hardly heard these days. Sure, we find some occasional fillers, but that is expected when we face an hour long album. Truth to be told, the sixth Life Line Project album presents a great leap in scene’s perception of de Beer’s group’s musical genius. There is a bright light shining on de Beer’s path, which was started because of fear, has been continued with bravery and will be definitely finished with de Beer as a musical hero.
Line-up
Maruschka Kartosonto – vocals
Elsa de Beer – flutes
Dineke Visser – oboe
Josine Fraaij – electric and acoustic violin
Jason Eekhout – guitars
Jody van der Gijze – guitars, vocals
Erik de Beer – keyboards, guitars, lute, mandolin, backing vocals
Iris Sagan – bass guitar
Ludo de Murlanos – drums, percussion, triangle
Production
TASCAM
Track list
1. Ignition (0:38)
2. Distorted Memories (5:26)
3. Life Line Suite 2010 (9:55)
4. Frozen Heart (4:45)
5. Caelum Aurum (6:44)
6. Interlude (1:20)
7. Reaper Of The Keys (5:39)
8. P.C. Left Is Right ! (5:24)
9. Acoustic Spring (1:59)
10. Steamroller (6:39)
11. The Final Word (13:20)
Bonus track:
12. The Dancing Dutchess (2:45)
