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Bjorn Lynne plays :
Guitars : Crafter jumbo-body active acoustic-electric, Gibson
Epiphone Les Paul, Fender Squier Stratocaster and Washburn electric
6-string.
Bass Guitar : Aria Pro II
Synths : Kurzwell K2500, Roland Alpha Juno 2, Roland JX-SP,
Novation Bass Station, Yamaha VL-70m
Mixing, Recording, Effects and Mastering : Alesis Adat 8-track
digital recorder, Spirit Folio SI 18-2 Mixer, Digitech Studio Quad,
Art Proverb 100, Jim Dunlop Original Cry-baby wah-wah, Drawner Ix20
Dual Expander/Compressor, Behringer Ultraflex II Multiband Sound Enhancer
& Surround Processor Fostex D-5 Digital Master Recorder.
Multi-instrumentalist Bjorn Lynne has written an album of tracks
inspired by the novel Wizard Of The Winds by Allan Cole. He
explains in his cover notes that it was not his intention to musically
describe every twist and turn in the story. So once he had a feel
for a track he let it go it's own way.
Each track has a few lines of narration which has been specially written
by Allan for the album and is narrated by Chris Blyth. The cover gives
the listener an immediate idea of what to expect from the album from
gentle synth sounds to wailing guitars creating a fantasy world of
demons, goblins and the like.
The opening track 'Stranger On A Hill, Part 1' is a short acoustic
guitar introduction to the album. A simple, yet effective opening,
while about half of the track is taken up by Chris' narration,
it sets the scene for the album.
The next track 'Valley Of The Clouds', is a seven minute epic
showing Bjorn's talents to the full. A moody and creative track
with spacey sounding synths, howling winds, wailing guitars. A twist
and turn within the sounds at every moment that lets your imagination
run wild.
The third track 'The Forbidden Desert' is another seven-minute
composition, which starts off slow and haunting then later develops
into a dark, spacey track, hypnotic rhythms and there's some super
guitar work towards the end of the track.
The next track 'Alisarrians Cave' is a much quieter track.
The track has quite a spooky feel to it created by a nice combination
of acoustic guitars and synth sounds with an occasional sampled voice
adding to the ambience. There's also a nice but moody/dark guitar
solo included.
'Sarn & Giff', is a dark, moody and haunting track.
The sixth track 'The Heroes Return' starts with a piano, then
keyboards are introduced followed by some excellent guitar work. A
change in direction follows with some atmospheric sounds , a Middle
Eastern influence to the keyboards. This is a track that from that
change in direction slowly builds up and then gradually fades away.
The next track 'The Thief Of Walaria' is a more mellow track,
a mixture of acoustic guitar and synth sounds.
'Gundara & Gundaree' reminds me of a Russian dance theme, I
can imagine the Cossacks dancing to this. And the track kind of evolves
around this theme changing mood occasionally.
The ninth track is 'Methydias Cloudship' kind of carries on
where the last track finished off, it still has has a slight dance
theme to it, but has more mood to it than the last. Aggressive guitars
and some stunning synth work.
The next track 'The Battle of "Two Stones" ' a dark and menacing
track, quite spooky at times. This is a track that is full of atmosphere.
Betrayal In Zanzair starts off fairly quietly with some nice
synth sounds. Not before long an acoustic guitar is added followed
by a piano. Then in comes a soaring guitar solo, then at all quietens
down for more acoustic guitar and synth flutes. At over eight minutes,
this is the longest track on the album and there are many changes
in direction, mood and tempo.
The final track 'Stranger On A Hill, Part 2' ties up the album
and story. It reintroduces the acoustic theme from part one and develops
it over the seven minutes of the track. Quite haunting in places and
finishes the album of nicely.
Being a fantasy fan, I was quite intrigued to listen to this album.
On listening, with a little imagination you can see scene's flashing
into your head as the music evolves around you. I cannot compare the
music to the book though as Allan Cole is not an author I am familiar
with. The inclusion of Chris’ narration's is something you are either
going to love or hate. I think it was a good idea to include the narration,
but I found after several listens of the album, they did distract
a bit and you found yourself just wanting to listen to the music.
Maybe it might have been better to put the narration as separate tracks,
then if the listener doesn't want the narration, he/she can program
them out. or fast forward to the next track. Maybe I am just being
too picky
Wizard Of The Winds/When the Gods Slept (CYCL 066) is released on
Cyclops Records.
GFT/Cyclops, 33a Tolworth Park Road, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7RL, UK
Tel: +44 (0)181-339-9965
Fax: +44 (0)181-399-0070
WEBSITE : http://www.gft-cyclops.co.uk
EMAIL : postmaster@gft-cyclops.co.uk
BJORN LYNNE WEBSITE : http://www.lynnemusic.com
EMAIL BJORN : lynne@lynnemusic.com
Buy
The CD
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