01	Dresden Lamentation						02:06
	02	The Iconoclast						07:05
	03	Green Meadow Lands						07:25
	04	The Cathedral						19:34
	05	Gunnlev's Round						02:52
	06	Night on Bare Mountain (incl. The Black Stone)						13:50
	07	Rondo						07:01
	08	Allegro Percussivo Flumeriosa						00:58
	09	Jazz Eruption						02:39
	10	Solaris						11:31

Tracks 1-6 Gothic Impressions (tracks 7-10 from EP "Rondo")
Crimsonic (CLSCD 101)
Sweden 1994

Par Lindh, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion;
with
Ralf Glasz, vocals;
Mathias Jonsson, vocals;
Johan Hogberg, bass;
Bjorn Johansson, classical guitar, bassoon, tinwhistle;
Magdalena Hagberg, vocals;
Anna Holmgren, flute;
Jonas Endgegard, electric guitar;
Mattias Olsson, drums, percussion;
Jocke Ramsell, electric guitar;
Lovisa Stenberg, harp;
Roine Stolt, acoustic guitar;
Camerata Vocalis, choir vocals

Brandon Wu:
PLP's first album is surprisingly restrained and tasteful (for the most part). I was dreading a bad case of ELP-worship, but although there's definitely an element of that here, on Gothic Impressions the keyboard pyrotechnics don't come at the price of good music. The compositions are pretty good, and the playing is for the most part immaculate. I find myself particularly enjoying the bass work of Johan Hogberg (of Anglagard fame; three of his bandmates make various contributions as well). He only plays on the second and fourth tracks, but it is immediately obvious that he's a great player, as those two are easily my favorites on the album, due in no small part to Hogberg's contributions.
On the flip side, "Night on Bare Mountain", an arrangement of Mussorgsky's piece by Par Lindh, gets a bit too much into the keyboard worship stuff that I dislike; and "Green Meadow Lands" is just kind of boring. Also, I find the male vocals a bit difficult to stomach - they are fairly technically accomplished, but rather heavily accented and a bit weak in places as well. The hint of Magdalena Hagberg's vocals on "The Iconoclast" is tantalizing, and her wordless singing in "Gunnlev's Round" is gorgeous. There's a reason that Lindh made Hagberg a full-time vocalist for the band following this album.
On the strengths of all but the two above-mentioned tracks, I would recommend Gothic Impressions to any symphonic prog fan. Of course, the recommendation is doubled for any ELP lover or keyboard fanatic.


Par Lindh Project "Gothic Impressions" 1994

Members:
Par Lindh-churchorgan, harpsichord, grand piano, mellotron, bass, drums & percussion and various electric keyboards including LSE Synthesizer
Camerata Vocalis-choir on 2,5
Ralf Glasz-vocals on 2,4
Mathias Jonsson-Vocals on 3
Jonas Engdegеrd-guitar on 3
Mattias Olsson-drums on 1,2,4
Johan Hogberg-bass on 2,4
Hеkan Ljung-flute on 5
Roine Stolt- mixing engineer and acoustic guitar on 3
Jocke Ramsell-guitar on 4
Bjorn Johansson-classical guitar, basson & tinwhistle on 1,4,5
Magdalena Hagberg-vocals on 2,5
Zeke Westberg-engineer
Anna Holmgren-flute on 1,3
Goran Stenberg-art direction & illustr.
Lovisa Stenberg-harp on 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Алекс Вольпертс: Диск открывают печальные аккорды меллотрона в сопровождении фагота и флейты - это плач по разрушенному Дрездену, в свое время самому красивому барочному городу в Европе, которому и посвящен замечательный альбом Пера Линда. Композ иция Dresden Lamenation по сути дела является вступлением к мощной и энергич ной композиции The Iconoclast, звучание которой многим покажется знакомым и характерно "шведским" - это тем более не удивительно, учитывая то, что ритм-секция легендарных Anglagard (Маттиас Олссон и Йохан Хогберг) помогала Линду при ее записи. Эта песня - своеобразный гимн Человек-Творцу. За ней следут Green Meadow Lands с нежной флейтой Анны Холмгрен (Anglagard) и не менее изумительным меллотроном Линда. Милая, пасторальная и вместе с те пафосная композиция с красивейшим органным развитием, хотя вокал Йоханссона явно не совсем соответствует уровню музыки. Партия акустической гитары на этой композиции принадлежит еще одной легенде - Ройне Столту из Kaipa, Flower Kings, etc., а партия электро гитары - Йонасу Энгдегарду из Anglagard. Диск продолжает центральная мнонгочастная композиция альбома - The Cathedral , посвященная Шартрскому Кафедральному Собору, которая длится почти 20 минут! Ее открывают мощные органные, "баховские" аккорды Пера, затем вступает сил ный, мужественный и почти оперный голос Ральфа Гласца,уже знакомого нам по второй композиции, песенная часть сменятся органно-меллотроным развитием, с великолепной, уже упомянутой ритм секцией Anglagard. Музыкальная текстура становится все более агрессивной и яростной, пассаж сменяется пассажем, но неожиданно вступает классическая гитара Бьерна Йоханссона, и настроение вновь изменяется на торжественно-возвышенное, снова появляются меллотрон и голос Ральфа. В следующей части бодрые звуки, извлекаемые на синтезаторе Муга, навевают определенные ременисценции c ELP. Завершает же композицию мощная и массив ная Фуга, с ярким гитарным соло и, конечно же, не менее ярким финальным орга ным соло Пара под классику, исполненным на настоящем церковном органе. Gunlev's Round - небольшая, очень милая барочная композиция с колоратурным вокалом Магдалены Хагберг, лютней Хакана Льюнга, флейтой Анны и клавесином Пера. Завершает же диск могучая и тяжелая версия Ночи на Лысой Горе Мусоргского - Nigh on Bare Mountain. В этой трактовке композция приобретает особо лихорадочные и яростные оттенки, благодаря интесивному использованию органа. Исполнение этого известного классического произведения раскрывает драматический талант с еще одной стороны - как великолепного аранжировщика. Интересно отметит , что на этой композиции Линд сам прекрасно исполнил все партии ударных. В целом - диск замечательный, выдержанный в лучших арт-роковых традициях и безусловно необходимый в любой серьерзной прог-роковой коллекции. Ближайшие оринетиры - Anglagard, Sinkadus.

Оценка - 9 из 10.

Gothic Impressions
1994
Genre: Progressive AOTM: May97

This is the first release from Par Lindh of Sweden and it's an absolute masterpiece. It was released in 1994 and features a number of musicians including members from the band Anglagard.
Here is what Par himself says (taken from the CD insert):
"The bulk of this music was written in the seventies and intended for release at that time. Unfortunately for many years the music industry has not had the courage to support progressive music and it has made any release of my material impossible until present day. However, at the beginning of this decade people have more and more come to question the value of much of the commercial nonsense that was predominant throughout the eighties and have started to look for a deeper and more meaningful musical language again. This has led to new opportunities for independent record labels, such as Crimsonic Label, to release music that takes risks and dares to break new ground which is what progressive music is all about... I dedicate this record to all true musicians and artists, to these hardworking, underpaid, struggling, idealistic men and women who make our world worth living in. Par Lindh"


THE REVIEWS ON GOTHIC IMPRESSIONS

"This is like Claudia Schiffer on disc: beautiful, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. This is a classic masterpiece!"
H.H. Herald, ENGLAND

"This could well be a symphonic progrock lover_s wet dream."
Background prog-rock magazine, HOLLAND april 95

"Possibly the best record ever to emerge from the country of Sweden. An incredible powerful and grandiose recording."
The Missing Piece, jan 95

"This CD is a classic masterpiece! It gets the highest marks 100/100 points."
Rock Report, HOLLAND 95

"Gothic Impressions is another album to add to the classic of the 90_s. Superb!"
Alan Freeman, AUDION England march 95

"A majestic work of timeless character." and "A work of great intellectual power."
Harmonie Magazine, france dec 94

"Excellent, a highly recommended album."
Art Rock Magazine, south korea 95

"A strong performance. From the delicate filigree of Gunnlev_s Round to a barn-burning rework of Mussorgsky_s Night on Bare Mountain, Lindh combines nimble chops on a variety of keyboards with a focused vision that_s rare in prog country."
KEYBOARD MAGAZINE, USA feb 95

"This is a CD of superb symphonic progressive music of the highest quality."
Backstage Magazine, SWEDEN jan 95

"Brilliant!"
Garden Shed, JAPAN dec 94

"A great debut CD!....you will appreciate it from the first minute to the last."
Arlequins, ITALY 95

"With his long awaited debut CD Lindh may have created the Brain Sallad Surgery of the 90_s - an album of keyboard oriented progressive music that all others will be judged by."
The Laser_s Edge, USA jan 95

"A breath of fresh air! A progressive keyboardplayer who can really play! The result is an almost flawless disc. For fans of impeccably played progressive classical rock this is absolutley not to be missed."
ZNR Records, USA april 95

"This magnificent suite proofs that it is possible to intergrate classical concepts within the framework of rock without losing the scene of good taste."
Big Bang, FRANCE april 95

"Gothic Impressions is a proof that progressive rock can still amaze the listners."
Fugazi, POLAND june 95

"In the six songs on this CD Par Lindh blends in an unique way classical traditions from the past five centuries. Sometimes changing dramatically between lyrical visions and explosive instrumental parts. A musical innovation - in many ways"
Enkopings Posten, SWEDEN nov 94



Par Lindh Project
Gothic Impressions
Crimsonic
1994

One of the people responsible for the Swedish prog revival of the '90s is Pдr Lindh, a professional classical musician who grew up listening to prog rock in the '70s.
Lindh was a member of the Royal Swedish Chamber Orchestra for four years before delving into progressive rock on a professional level, and he is a genuinely talented, sincere musician who does everything with a sense of integrity.
Most people who bought this debut album probably did so because several members of the tragically short-lived but already legendary Swedish band Anglagard play on this album. Their performances are good, but anyone who expects this album to sound like Anglagard is likely to be sadly disappointed.
Instead of Anglagard's violently dynamic mood swings, what we have here is a more even tempered, refined brand of Swedish classical rock with the accent on classical.
If Emerson Lake & Palmer operated in the space between classical and rock music, Par Lindh works in the space between ELP and classical music. While Lindh is obviously heavily influenced by ELP, his career in classical music seems to have tempered any inclinations he may have ever had toward blatant prog rock bombast. Whether this is a good thing or not depends on your point of view. Those legions upon legions of critics who constantly abused ELP for their ultra-bombastic bastardizations of classical pieces might find Lindh's approach more appetizing. His rendition of Mussorgsky's "Night on Bare Mountain" has so little rock music or instrumentation infused into it that a casual listener not very familiar with the piece may not suspect this was a "rock" recording at all. This is because Lindh stays fairly true to the original piece and uses modern keyboards that very convincingly synthesize the sound of a real orchestra.
This applies largely to the rest of the album as well. Lindh deftly mixes Mellotrons, Hammond Organ, various synthesizers both old and new and what sounds like a real church pipe organ into a seamless mixture of classically-influenced prog rock.
To my ears, however, there is a little too much classical prettiness and not enough bombast. I realize I am probably almost completely alone in that opinion, but I like Keith Emerson's knives-jammed-between-the-keys-of-the-Hammond approach complete with Moog ramblings. I like Pictures at an Exhibition! I like bombast! But that's just me.
However, I'm sure the Pretentious Police would find plenty of other things on Gothic Impressions to complain about. The vocals provided by Ralf Glasz and Mathias Jonsson are a little too operatic and snooty sounding even for my tastes. Fortunately, the vocals are kept to a minimum and instrumental passages dominate the album.
Easily the best track on the album is the nearly 20-minute-long "Cathedral." This piece features lots of pipe organ to set the scene of a Gothic cathedral. One passage from this piece absolutely reeks of ELP influence. It is the only section where Lindh could actually be accused of being derivative, but it is also my favorite part of the album because it's the only place where he truly attempts to rock. Дnglagеrd's Johan Hцgberg and Mattias Olsson make some great contributions on bass and drums on this track.
Overall this is a decent album, but I can think of several CDs on which I would have rather spent my $20.



=====================

Par Lindh & Bjorn Johansson - Bilbo

Released: 1996
Label: Crimsonic
Cat. No.:
Total Time: 62:58


Review courtesy John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, July 2000
Based on the work of Tolkien, Par Lindh joins forces with guitarist Bjorn Johansson for this one. The atmosphere on this album can be situated in between Celtic and Nordic folk elements set in a landscape that contains medieval ballads and pure symphonic rock. Complete with sounds of nature and acoustic horns opener "The Shire" sets the tone that will be apparent all over the album. The use of recorder, flute, mandolins, Hammond, mellotron, synthesizers (11!) and electric guitars deliver an album with a lot of diversity. The voice of Magdalena Hagberg emphasizes that "folky" feeling. That's why "Song Of The Dwarfs" (and in fact the entire album) will also be treasured by fans of Mike Oldfield. Bilbo sounds different than Gothic Impressions but it's a truly wonderful album all around!

More about Bilbo:

Track Listing: The Shire (4:14) / Gandalf The Magician (3:25) / Song Of The Dwarfs (6:02) / Rivendell (2:20) / The Dark Cave (4:36) / Running Towards The Light (3:02) / Uncomfortable Seats (6:30) / In Beorn's Garden & Beorn's Walk To Carrock (3:12) / Mirkwood-Suite (11:19) / Smaug (3:36) / Roac's Tale (1:18) / The Battle Of The Five Armies (5:31) / Thorin's Funeral (1:47) / Afterture (3:58) / Shire Song (4:08)

Musicians:
Par Lindh - keyboards
Bjorn Johansson - classical guitar, bassoon, bass, zither, jews harp, 22 mandolins
Anna Schmidtz - flute
Magdalena Hagberg - vocals

Contact:


Website: www.algonet.se/~larry/plp.html
Note: will open new browser window

Email: crimsoni@algonet.se

Discography

Gothic Impressions (1994)
Rondo (EP) (1995) (w/ Bjorn Johansson)
Bilbo (1996) (w/ Bjorn Johansson)
Mundus Imcompertus (1997)
Live In America (1999)
Veni Vidi Vici (2001)



Par Lindh - Rondo

Released: 1995
Label: Crimsonic
Cat. No.:
Total Time: 22:07


Review courtesy John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, July 2000
This mini album opens with the Dave Brubeck classic "Rondo" once "raped" by The Nice. The current Keith Emerson of course is called Par Lindh, whilst the powerful drumming comes courtesy of Nisse Bielfeld. There's little one can change once you tackle a "classic" like this one! Lovers of unadulterated Hammond sounds are treated to this exquisite sound during "Jazz Eruption. With "Solaris," Par Lindh even dares to explore the wonderful world of psychedelica mingled with dashes of folk. Rondo is certainly a very varied disc that was released as bridge between two releases (Gothic Impressions and Bilbo).

More about Rondo:

Track Listing: Rondo (7:01) / Alegro Percussivo Flumerioso (0:58) / Jazz Eruption (2:36) / Solaris (11:31)

Musicians:
Par Lindh - keyboards
Magdalena Hagberg - vocals
Nisse Bielfeld - drums
Marcus Jaderholm - bass
Jocke Ramsell - guitars

Contact:


Website: www.algonet.se/~larry/plp.html
Note: will open new browser window

Email: crimsoni@algonet.se

Gothic Impressions (1994)
Rondo (EP) (1995)
Bilbo (1996) (w/ Bjorn Johansson)
Mundus Imcompertus (1997)
Live In America (1999)
Veni Vidi Vici (2001)




Par Lindh - Gothic Impressions

Released: 1994
Label: Crimsonic
Cat. No.:
Total Time: 52:07


Review courtesy John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, July 2000
In two words: this is a classic masterpiece! You can view this comparison from various angles. At first most of the music here dates from the end of the seventies yet due to the difficulty with progressive rock in that period of time the project was postponed time and time again. Due to the sudden interest in the genre (thank you Internet!), the Crimsonic label was founded which released this magnificent symphonic rock CD filled to the rim with mellotron, church organ and Hammond in order to "push" the "modern" sound of samples and synths to the background. From a compositional view this album certainly can be called classical by means of the way how the album is built, the emotional atmosphere, the skilled vocals, the complexity throughout. With Keith Emerson and Bach as main influences, Par Lindh is surrounded on this album by some of the most outstanding musicians around. You get the flute of Anna Holmgren, the harp of Lovisa Stenberg in the superb "Green Meadows Land," the oboe of Bjorn Johansson and the lute of Hakan Ljung as acoustic counterparts. Connoisseurs will certainly enjoy the inclusion of guitarist Jonas Engdegard and bass player Johan Hogberg both from Anglagard. Gothic Impressions is one hour of musical orgasm by means of some of the best symphonic rock ever produced. Even if these compositions date from the seventies and they contain a fair amount of cliches, the album has been recorded with the best equipment with the guarantee of a crystal-clear sound. This album is the Claudia Schiffer amongst prog rock albums: beautiful, beautiful, absolutely beautiful!

More about Gothic Impressions:

Track Listing: Dresden Lamentation (2:06) / The Iconoclast (7:04) / Green Meadow Lands (7:24) / The Cathedral (19:33) / Gunnlev's Round (2:50) / Night On Bare Mountain (13:50)

Musicians:
Par Lindh - keyboards
Roine Stolt - acoustic guitar
Bjorn Johansson - classical guitar, bassoon, tin whistle
Johan Hogberg - bass
Jonas Engdegard - electric guitar
Mattias Olsson - drums, percussion
Jocke Ramsell - electric guitar
Anna Holmgren - flute

Contact:


Website: www.algonet.se/~larry/plp.html
Note: will open new browser window

Email: crimsoni@algonet.se

Gothic Impressions (1994)
Rondo (EP) (1995)
Bilbo (1996) (w/ Bjorn Johansson)
Mundus Imcompertus (1997)
Live In America (1999)
Veni Vidi Vici (2001)








Par Lindh Project Bilbo (Sweden, '96)

The Shire (instrumental)
(including the Bilbo theme)

Gandalf the magician (instrumental)

Song of the dwarfs
(including Walikng Tune)

Far away through Land and forest Olde
Our way must bear over Mountains cold
Through dark caves where lights is dim
To see our home and halls of gold

Where the king in our dream still dwells
As iron hammers ring like Bells
Into the dark grey halls of olde
Where our feet will walk beneath the Fells

High up where eagles have their home
And their King is sitting on his Throne
We must away on our journey back
To reach our long forgotten home

The Town shall rise again one Day
The King's return be met with Hail
The dragon will his doom there meet
On Durins day in autumn pale

Far away over hill and forest Olde
Our way must bear over Mountains cold
Through dark caves where lights is dim
To see our halls that are made of gold

The Elves they dance in the Night
They sing under moon and stars so bright
Their song of King and Elvish Lords
Whose praise they sing with voices light

The wolves are howling at the Moon
The Goblins are threatening Earth with Doom
We now must away before too long
To reach our goal and destiny soon

A Town will rise again one Day
Built over stone and ruins frail
The dragon will his doom there meet
On Durins day in autumn pale

The King returns to all his Might
As dwarfs and men and Elves will Fight
Together as one for what is right
Restore our Kingdom in all delight

Far away through Land and forest Olde
Our way must bear over Mountains cold
Through dark caves where light is dim
To see our home and halls of gold

Rivendell

From where are you coming
And where are you heading
Your beards need trimming
The river is swimming
Your beards need trimming
In the valley of Rivendell

The dwarfs are so grumpy
So grumpy humpy dumpy
What brings mister Gandalf
And Bolbo and Thorin
Into our valley
This fair summer's night

We hope you will be staying
And long before your leaving
To leave would be folly
Staying will be jolly
To leave would be folly
Our valley of Rivendell

The dark cave (instrumental)
(includes the Mountain Path, the Capture,
the Bilbo theme & Riddles in the dark)

Running towards the light (instrumental)

Uncomfortable seats (instrumental)

In Beorns garden & Beorns walk to Carrock (instrumental)

Mirkwood - Suite
a) Mirkwood
b) In the Pallace of the Elven King
c) Barrel ride
d) Laketown fuge
e) the Return of the King:

The kings of dwarves and mountain
His might shall be restored
His wealth will spring from fountains
All foes will fear his sword

His glory bells be ringing,
His hall with tapestry hung,
All mountain sound with singing
As the hymns of praise be sung.

The water shall flow from fountains
Into rivers deep below
The trees will grow on mountain
Where we golden wealth bestow

The King with armour shining
And his Queen so fair and sage,
All stars they will be shining
At the dawn of a golden age!

Smaug (instrumental)

Roacs tale (instrumental)

The battle of the five armies (instrumental)

Thorins funeral (instrumental)

Afterture (instrumental)

Shire song

Home again in the Shire so green
Under blue skies and under clouds

Through fire and terrible danger cold
Through the caves besieged by eternal darkness

Over hill and fields so fair
Into the dancing water of spring

Over root and under tree
And over rivers in the sun

Home again in the Shire so fair
Under sun and under moon

Yet eyes that strange lands have seen
Turn at last on kettle and hearth

Death and fire in halls where I have been
Fear and horror on the Battlefield

Soon I'll see the hill so green
Which is the home where I belong