Lars Boutrup and his extensive career includes collaborations with Simcess, Big Bang, Evil Masquerade, and Supernova, among others, and over the years he has composed music for more than 200 silent movies. Currently he continues to release new music with Sonic Tool Box and performs live with the band SilverGlam. In 2005 Lars released his first instrumental keyboard album entitled Lars Boutrup's Music For Keyboards. Now, almost 20 years later, his new release is entitled The Overture To Life, solo album #5, with for the second time in a row the line-up Lars Boutrup (organ, keyboards and synthesizers, Niels Wilhelm Knudsen (bass) and Spike Nior (drums and percussion). The Overture To Life is my first musical encounter with this instrumental Danish keyboard driven trio, fuelled by Lars Boutrup and his Keith Emerson kind of sound. Most of the 8 tracks contain swinging rhythms and catchy beats, embellished with pleasant work on organ and synthesizers, often sparkling and swirling. Lars does his best to deliver variety, like the sequencing in Funky Man X, the beeps and bleeps in Hero Time, the Mellotron violins in Perfect Friday and the bluesy Hammond organ sound in Owed To Irwing. However, at some moments my attention tends to slip away, due to the a bit similar moods and rhythms. My highlights are the two most elaborate and varied compositions. First the title track: lots of changing atmospheres, a sumptuous orchestral keyboard sound, tight beats and a majestic Hammond sound. And finally Perfect Friday: it starts with tender piano and atmospheric sounds, then a mid-tempo, embellished with Mellotron violins and powerful Hammond, the music alternates between bombastic eruptions and mellow parts, with sparkling synthesizer flights and a swinging bass. ***+ Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
