Review to the right: PLP´s second album Mundus Incompertum got higher points than almost all other releases in Japans biggest Rock Magazine BURN
Time Mirror
¨...what is it that makes PLP so special? For one thing their musicianship is second to none, playing with a verve and skill that many prog acts would envy. Secondly the arrangements are meticulously but tunefully structured, keeping the listener hooked from start to finish. Add to that a dazzling array of musically twists and turns, rhythm and tempo changes and there is enough here to keep even the most nit-picking prog sceptic in raptures.¨
Geoff Feakes DPRP reviews
¨Prolusion. Swedish keyboardist and composer Par Lindh has been given much credit for the renewed interest in symphonic progressive rock, due to his role in the establishment of The Swedish Art Rock Society and his output with PAR LINDH PROJECT that both started in the early 90s. "Time Mirror" is the latest effort from his band, their fourth full length studio album, and follows almost a decade after their previous CD "Veni Vidi Vici".
Analysis. Most anyone with a serious interest in art rock is familiar with Par Lindh and his project, at least if they have had a desire to keep track of the resurgence that started in the 90s and slowly but steadily has reached something of a bloom in the last few years. His endeavors in the symphonic rock scene are heralded, although perhaps not too well known for those who have discovered their taste for this style of music in the last couple of years. This production should rectify that little matter splendidly. The four compositions at hand showcase the scope and width of Lindh and his fellow musicians as composers, instrumentalists and musicians quite nicely. Most anyone with a taste for their chosen style should find lots of delightful experiences tightly packed into this just over 40 minutes long journey. The title track kicks off the proceedings in a timely epic manner, and in just over 17 minutes were taken on a wild ride into most nooks and crannies one can find within this part of the art rock universe. Booming organ dominated themes, distinctly classical symphonic passages, ragtime inspired movements, good time rock and roll-like excursions, dramatic sequences with a nod or two in the direction of good old ELP and plain old-fashioned richly layered symphonic keyboard dominated constructions, all of them and a few more besides visited, explored and occasionally revisited in less than 20 minutes. Waltz Street then takes an abrupt turn to the left, with a joyful, jubilant piano driven ragtime flurry, telling the tale of how the greed of Wall Street made a mighty impact on the world at large, a piece that would fit in perfectly if someone ever should get the idea of creating a musical covering this topic and have it play on Broadway: A brilliant, fun-filled matinee inspired act, sporting a doom-laden organ-driven insert between the joyful opening and ending parts. If someone ever films a scene depicting a couple dancing in the ruins of Wall Street, they should be forced to use this song for it. With Death Unreconciled is a return to the epic length composition, this time giving the limelight to the organ with various synths and keyboards supporting it, while final effort Sky Door emphasizes the harmonic interplay between bass, organ and keyboards first and foremost. This last piece also sports a slower, dream-laden passage where Kopeckys bass is given the dominant role, gently supported by fragile, ethereal keyboard textures. And the bass guitar is an important instrument throughout. Kopecky is a versatile and skilled musician, and his talent and taste for subtle innovative details enriching this CD in a major way. ¨
¨Conclusion. If you love symphonic progressive rock, have more than a passing interest in the genre or merely are curious as to how a high quality production of this genre sounds like, "Time Mirror" is a disc you should add to your purchase list straight away.¨
¨...this a CD that comes warmly recommended.¨
OMB=Olav M Bjornsen: June 20, 2011 ?The Rating Room
What the critics say about the band and their new Live DVD
¨This band is the cream of the crop¨
¨And judged on his performance here Lindh could be just
about the best keyboardist currently active on the scene¨
¨Swedish Pär Lindh Project takes Prog Rock to new heights¨
¨I´am glad that Pär is back because I would place him in the same category as
Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz, Eddie Jobson and Jürgen Fritz¨.
¨Pär is a head and a shoulder or two above most of
today´s keyboardplayers¨
¨I must say that as a pure instrumental performance the DVD will be hard to follow¨
PLP Live at The House of Blues in Chicago
Lindh is a top notch keyboard player, ranking right up there with the greats that he emulates. Opening with "Baroque Impressions No 1" the band was like a freight train picking up speed on a downgrade. The entire Mundus Imcopertus album followed along with sections of "Gothic Impressions", "Rondo" and a short medley from Par´s project with Björn Johansson "Bilbo". Outstanding work from all of the musicians ( Jocke Ramsell-guitar, Marcus Jäderholm-bass, and Nisse Bielfeld-drums) was the order of the day with jaw-dropping riffs from everybody on stage. Vocalist Magdalena Hagberg was a beautiful counterpoint to the pandemonium around her. Her vocals were high, soft and silky, yet when needed she could conjure up power to spare and soar above the din created by her bandmates. Hagberg also played some simple keys, and occasional violin, but had the good sense to get out of the way when Pär and friends cranked into their instrumental fireworks. Standing ovations followed the regular set, as the band came back on stage to encore with an almost grunge/prog version of King Crimson´s "20th Century Schizoid Man". Drummer Bielfeld came out from behind the skins like a prog version of Rob Zombie, as he spat out the lyrics to the Crimson classic.
review by Music News Network
PLP Live at Spirit of 66 in Belgium
Pär Lindh is a phenomenon. You just got to see this keyboardist change quick as lightning from piano to Hammond and then change around 180 degrees to the other Hammond without losing a split second in his playing! And what playing! His fingers dances on the keyboards...every note so natural and played with such a precision so you can´t help but beeing filled with admiration.
Then Magdalena, another subject for our admiration as she is not only very beautiful but has a crystal clear voice like mild springwater...(comme l´eau clair d´un ruisseau)
The big surprise of the evening however came from the new bassplayer Bill Kopecky who was just staggering...lot´s of feeling, absolutely one with his instrument.
The two hours concert passed as quickly as a TGV train...
WHAT?
Allready Over?
Oh NO!
Pär Lindh Project is a band at the very top of Progressive Rock today
Excerpt from review by Jean-Marc Rousse
