Trace - Birds - 1975 (24/96 Vinyl Rip)

Dutch Trio (Keyboards, bass & drums) led by ex-EKSEPTION keyboards player Rick Van Der LINDEN, TRACE was considered as the most famous super-group of its country. Its music includes virtuoso, researched, complicated, ever evolving themes, full of breaks and instrumental developments where the keyboards player could show his talent on Hammond organ, synthezisers, harpsichord, piano and Mellotron. The second album "Birds" (1975) was Golden record at that time. Englishman Ian MOSLEY (Future MARILLION drummer) appears here, as well as CURVED AIR's Darryl Way's violin on one track.
"Fran published this year the beautiful 'Sire' pressing of this exciting album that has renewed my interest in this group". Some weeks ago I saw a fantastic Philips pressing of this album and I couldn't resist to buy it. Enjoy this album!

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

Review:

Like the previous album from TRACE, I give this one also a 5 star rating. Whereas the previous album puts the emphasis on the virtuosity of the band members, this one highlights Rick's skill in arranging music to an even greater degree. Usually his music sounds so good and natural that the skill that has gone in creating the track goes by almost unnoticed: some Hammond here, a fluff of harpsichord there, a little mellotron in the background passing by. And it's not just the use of instruments, his special signature also extends to his use of harmony, the way he structures melodies, it makes him very recognizable. Centre piece of this album is the Birds suite, it consists of several shorter movements strung together, with Rick using a host of different instruments, including the church organ.

"Bourree" and "Snuff" are high energy tracks with a key role for the Hammond (in "Bourree" Rick combines Bach with a roadie imitating a monkey), "Janny (In a mist)" is a short Bix Beiderbecke solo piano piece, delightfully played, whereas the track "Penny" is a sensitive trio for piano, bass and drums. Rick duels with Daryl WAY, who is the guest star on "Opus 1065", a piece based on the "Concerto for 4 harpsichords and strings in A minor" from J.S.Bach. This album is too good to let it pass you by.

Birdcorps@Progarchives.com


Track List:

1. Bourree
2. Snuff
3. Janny (In A Mist)
4. Opus 1065
5. Penny
6. Trixie-Dixie
7. King-Bird
8. Reflection

Line-up / Musicians:

Rick van der Linden: keyboards (grand piano, clavinet, pianet, Hammond B-3 Organ, harpsichord, A.R.P. 2600 synthesizer, Solina string ensamble, mellotron, steeldrums, Riha classica

Ian Mosley: drums, timpani, Chinese gong, duckcall, tamborine

Jaap van Elk: vocals, guitars (Fender Precision bass, stratocaster, Fender fuzz, phased guitar)

Guests:

Darryl Way: acoustic/electric violins
Coen Hoedeman: assorted monkeys