Reviews of PLP-Live in Poland DVD

New review !

Par Lindh Project have released their first DVD, which was recorded at a recent concert held at Wyspiansky Theater in Poland. The 80 minute long concert is a fully instrumental mix of classical based progressive rock. Here in a trio format, Par Lindh (keyboards), William Kopecky (bass) and a new member Svetlan Raket (drums). I’m not sure if they will remain a trio in the future but if they do, I think many keyboard driven prog fans will be delighted.
I have been an occasional fan of Par Lindh's material, ever since his ‘Gothic Impressions’ which to me is amazing from start to finish. After ‘Rondo’, I lost touch until I received the ‘Live In Iceland’ CD,. This rekindled my appreciation for Par, who as a keyboardist takes the best of Emerson and Wakeman then morphs them with a slice of Swedish folk into something very enjoyable. So when I received the ‘Live In Poland’ dvd, I was finally able to see Par in action., right on my TV screen!

All three musicians here are truly masters at their own instrument. William Kopecky has a style all his own, so I can’t really compare him to anyone else, just like Svetlan Raket, who is one of Sweden’s hidden gems. You get excellent glimpse at them in a live video setting. This is a treat from someone such as myself that may not ever get to see them in person.

I have no personal favorites of this, because I simply love all the songs equally. Yes I know that can be seen as a cop out but it’s true. As a added treat, this concert comes as a deluxe cd/dvd set. On the dvd the extras include an informative 20 minute interview with Par where he discusses his beginnings as a classical pianist to establishing the Swedish art rock society in 1991.

In closing, if you enjoy keyboard driven instrumental progressive rock, then look no further. PLP is the band for you. Honestly, this band is the cream of the crop, and you get to see it for yourself anytime you desire.

Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on October 17th, 2008

¨The virtuoso performance incorporates complex arrangements in a supercharged marriage of classical and ‘70’s flavoured progressive rock. And judged on his performance here Lindh could be just about the best keyboardist currently active on the scene. Kopecky and Råket are more than up to the task of supplying the appropriate support. In my opinion the bassist is way ahead of the ex ELP and Crimson man especially during his solos which are ripe with melodic invention and lead runs. Råket’s drumming remains rock solid and consistently inventive throughout employing jazz creativity where necessary. He also looks like a youthful Steve Hackett.

Utilising his arsenal of keyboards to provide the orchestrations Lindh’s playing is full of classical flourishes and strong dynamics aided by Råket and Kopecky. The latter even manages to incorporate a bass solo. The Bach flavoured Baroque Impression No.1 from PLP’s second album is a superb vehicle for Lindh’s jaw-dropping Hammond playing. He also adds stirring synth work whilst Kopecky’s bass skilfully recreates the guitar parts from the album version. Fast and rhythmic piano dominates Mundus / Veni Vidi Vici Medley which becomes more romantic in the second part, reminiscent of Rick Wakeman’s rippling style. Lindh introduces Suite In Progress as “a new piece that doesn’t even have a name”. Despite the title it does seem to be a fully developed piece and is one of the DVD’s strongest which bodes well for the future.¨
From RDPRP:CD & DVD reviews by Geoff Feakes

Metal Perspective Review
¨The sound of the project is a mixture of classical music and progressive rock. The medival, renaissance and classical aura of Pär Lindh will be very tempting for fans of Y.J. Malmsteen and his successors.
¨I must say that as a pure instrumental performance the DVD will be hard to be followed.¨
¨This DVD is an excellent chance to better know Pär Lindh Project. Recommended.¨

Bad-Blogg
As I have finally been able to sit down and watch Pär Lindh Project's (PLP) latest offering, Live in Poland, the verdict is simply that few lovers of adventurous music (or progressive rock (or neo-baroque as Pär calls it)) will regret doing the same.

This is pure Pär, in a set of great instrumentals with William Kopecky on bass(es), and Svetlan Raket on drums. While he is not as daringly modern in his choice of classical influences as Keith Emerson (and definitely not as wild), he is a head and shoulder or two above most of today's keyboardplayers.

Subtle elegance and carefull electronicity, or in short Rick Wakeman meets Jordan Rudess. Pär mentions in an interview Bach, Beethoven, Mussorgsky & Wagner as the classical composers he finds closest to prog, and it shows in his performance.

It is fun and rather impressive to see how much he enjoys playing Hammond, synths and piano (and moving quickly between them, not to mention the classic Emerson stunt of playing one with each hand while looking straight ahead). Not to mention a good ragtime thrown in for fun. No knives or daggers, though.

While the opening number may be a bit hard to get into (especially if you're not familiar with Mussorgsky), the rest of the show flows along with the neo-baroque flame kept very strongly alive.

Go get!
Björn-Are Davidsen

Music Street Journal
I had heard of Pär Lindh for a while, but had yet to hear him or his group. Well, the wait is over and it´s shame I waited this long. This concert DVD is a great set and showcases a powerful trio of musicians at their best - the live setting. The audio and video quality are both quite good and the performance is awesome.
The most obvious comparison is Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but there are other elements here as well.
At times I hear Yes in the mix and you´ll probably make out other sounds here and there. All three musicians are purely inspiring on their instruments and compositions and arrangements are top- notch.
The set includes such bonuses as an interview, bio, photo gallery and other usual features. All in all, this is a great set that will serve either as an excellent introduction or a ¨must have¨ addition to your Pär Lindh collection.
Review by Gary Hill

IO Pages
It has been a while since we last heard material by the Pär Lindh Project (PLP). It was the CD Live In Iceland from 2001. A lot has happened since that time, amongst it was the sad death of singer and violinplayer Magdalena Hagberg.

I am glad that Pär is back because I would place him in the same category as people like Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz, Eddie Jobson and Jürgen Fritz. There was even a chance that he would join The Nice for their reunion but that never took place . Lindh comes from the classical world and that can be noticed well on his albums. This DVD is recorded on November 19th 2007 in the Polish progtemple Wyspianski Theater in Katowice.

Again Metal Mind has done a fine recording. It shows the PLP with the brilliant American bassplayer William Kopecky and the fine Swedish drummer Svetlan Råket.
Behind an impressive battery of keyboards, for instance the Hammond organ but also a digital church organ that sounds excellent, Lindh opens with Night On Bare Mountain by Mussorgsky, a composer whose music fits progressive rock very well.

What I find striking again about Lindh that, in spite of his wonderful technique and love for players like Keith Emerson, he doesn’t only comes with bombastic keyboardwork. The music is subtle and constantly with a classical feel. The DVD consists of some of the most well known pieces by Lindh.

They work on a new CD and the piece that is still without a title “Suite In Progess” promises much. In this track a lot of jazz is used. Kopecky played a sensitive solo (no freaking). I must honestly say that I have enjoyed this DVD much. It is a great sign of new life from the PLP and leaves me longing for their upcoming work.
©2008, Paul Rijkens, Dutch progressive rockmagazine iO Pages.

¨If you are a lover of Prog Rock, you will need this one. I normally put the link to the ¨where to buy¨ site at the bottom of my reviews, but this band is so good I´ll put you out of your misery right now, you won´t have to read my review, you can buy it here www.parlindh.com

Of Swedish origin Pär Lindh Project take Prog Rock to new heights. Keyboardist Pär Lindh does a great job. Prog Rock lovers love keyboards and I do believe Pär Lindh has beaten Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson on the number of keyboards used in a single set.

I really like this DVD and the musical direction this band is taking. I have to admit that parts of this of this DVD took me back to the Halcyon days of the early 70´s and ELP´s album Tarkus.

I have just finished a review of Tony Palmers great look at popular music and if´´ he was making that series today Pär Lindh would be in it.
My favorite composer is J. S. Bach. Pär Lindh might not be quite as good yet but he is certainly on the right track.

So much of today´s music is lifeless. The Britney Spears of the world has wrecked the music industry. It is wonderful to see a band like PLP break out. Of course they will face a huge hurdle in the US market as the US seems to be ingrained with the idea that all popular music should be shallow and involve some skimply dressed bozo singing about inane subjects. Favorites beeing, boy friends, dogs, pick up trucks and although i have not investgated it thoroughly, Barb Wire Fences.
Even worse is rap.
Get with the program folks and give Pär Lindh a chance. He is a great composer and inventor.
Simon Barrett

Italian review
This time Wyspia?ki Theatre in Katowice gives the welcome to a great Swedish musician, Pär Lindh, and his triadic line-up Project in which there are William Kopecky at the bass guitar and Svetlan Råket on the drums. The whole stage, instrumentation and music respect the classical Emersonian tradition to which the Scandinavian keyboard-wizard and his very personal Project are inspired to. Pär Lindh Project (PLP) is active since 1994 but released only three studio albums, the last in 2001, and finally get back to live-stages thanks to Metal Mind Productions, label that's able to bring in Poland musicians of important calibre in the progressive-rock milieu.
If the last studio album is date back in 2001 (PLP III), the last live album is from 2002 (Live in Iceland). After six years arrives on the shelves even a dvd... this is the powerful Metal Mind, which is very expert in releasing this kind of products. The trio exhibition shot in video is the one from 19th November 2007 and it's a completely instrumental one. In few more than a hour the tracklist covers the whole discography of PLP, starting from the re-arrangement of “Night on Bare Mountain (incl. The Black Stone)” by Mussorgsky, a medley between “Mundus” and “Veni, Vidi, Vici”, closing with “Montagues & Capulets” and “Gradus ad Parnassum”. So in the dvd there's a new-classical bombastic show of ELP-ish prog-rock to a high power, and much, much technical skills.
But Pär Lindh's new-classicism is sincere and passionate, though sometimes his kind of music can be listened in thousands of other similar bands. Lindh loves the classical music with all his heart, and expresses this love in the long interview there's in the dvd extras too. He likes to experiment with the union of this passion with the energy only rock-music is able to give.. Well, someone named Keith Emerson already did this kind of experiments forty years ago with his Nice and ELP, but it's always pleasant watching wonderful musicians playing, above all when they do that with the heart and not for simple exhibitionism.
As already said the dvd has a part of extra-contents in which Lindh is interviewed, and there's a full photo-gallery, beside the biography and discography of the band. This dvd is another goal for the Metal Mind.

¨In all, a highly enjoyable set which captures Lindh in a live enviroment. The recording quality is superb throughout and the playing exemplary.¨
Prog Archives.com

¨Seven lengthy songs comprise the set, filmed in concert at the Wyspian´ski Theatre in Katowice, Poland, back in november 2007. The band is in good form, with Lindh leading the way behind his huge ensemble of keyboards, most often going to his hammond organ but also using planty of vintage synthesizers. To his credit, Bill Kopecky´s fusion oriented chops really come out during these songs, and he also gets to shine on a nifty solo spot late in the set. production wise this show was well shot, with great colors and visuals and the audio was mixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, so you know it´s going to sound real good. throw in some nice bonus features, including an interview with Pär Lindh, a cool little booklet with some great photos, and you´ve got an all around solid package here for the prog aficionado.
SEA of Tranquility

Reviews of various Pär Lindh Project live performances :
For reviews of the CDs please see merchandice/shop page


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 Roussel

PLP Live at The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco

From Sweden came the last act of the day and they were beyond easy praise and wordsmithing. Pär Lindh Project was a keyboard ocean of wonder. Splendid vocals by Magdalena Berg was enchanting as Pär Lindh went far beyond Keith Emerson´´ scope. Then blistering guitar work, driving bass and monster drums froze us in time, leaving us slack-jawed. Top notch pinnacle prog here and for the day´s second encore Pär Lindh Project did King Crimson´s ¨21st Century Schizoid Man¨! My hands couldn´´ have clapped harder and the shouts and wolf whistles were deafening.
Graceful and high intensity, was Pär Lindh and his Project.
John W. Patterson

PLP Live at Chappel Hill in North Carolina

PLP Crown jewel of ProgDay '98

I don't think that even after seeing this event, that most people really fathomed what they just experienced. This was the crown jewel of Progday '98. While some people may say it was "good", let me reassure you that it rarely gets better than this. Par (pronounced Pare) plays more tastefully than even Mr. Emerson himself. After meeting him, I can say he is an equally nice gentleman. After having the trip from hell getting to America, the band was delayed in NYC while they waited for their gear to arrive on another plane. Those poor guys (and girl). They then had to rent a van and pack all their gear and personnel in it. They didn't get to Chapel Hill until 3am Sunday morning. This delayed their scheduled Saturday set until Sunday. By the time they emptied their van, they found their guitarist packed away toward the back! Yes, he rode here like that from NYC! Unbelievable. Their start time was delayed again until all the voltage converters were set up properly for the arsenal of 220v keyboards/modules. This group has it all. Obviously, Par, one of the best keyboardists alive. They also have a beautiful female singer/violinist/keyboardist. This really added another element to the project's sound. She was used somewhat sparingly, but that made those moments that much more anticipated. The rest of the band was very tight and played exceedingly well. The drummer got to scream the vocals to a searing rendition of "21st Century Schizoid Man" as the crowd went completely apeshit. This was a true treat for the musician's musician.
review by Jim Giantomasi.

Pär Lindh reviews as soloartist:

Pär Lindh is the Scandinavian king of the keyboards.
IO pages

If you want to hear what Bach might haved soulded like were he alive today...
Dragon Music

The greatest composer & artist to emerge in the nineties!
Metamusica

Once again, Pär Lindh showed astounding technique, mastery and refinement, chiseling out in the manner of a goldsmith each of these harmonically and rythmically rich pieces. A fine artist, authentic and inspired.
La Republique du Centre

Pär Lindh, stole the equipment show by sitting in on the house concert organ. His sound added a new degree of boneshaking meaning to the phrase ¨Pedal Tones¨.
KEYBOARD MAGAZINE

Pär Lindh played as if he was both trying to reweal the special qualities from the piano that would motivate one to play on an instrument that didn´t exist during Bachs time andalso with a delicate touch which gave the right clarity to the music. Not unlike Glenn Gould acctually.
Uppsala Nya Tidning

Thank you for the beautiful concert at the Swedish Club in Paris which really was a feast.
Gustav von Platen former chiefeditor of Svenska Dagbladet

An outstanding harpsichordist ! I haven´t heard anything like him since I heard Wanda Landowska play live in concert.
Marc Stanley