Bjorn Lynne Soothe Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Lucid Dreams')

To be honest this is the first time I have had the pleasure in sampling the work of Bjorn Lynne, a Norwegian born instrumentalist famed for his more progressive instrumental rock orientated albums 'Wolves of the Gods' and 'The Gods Awaken'.

Here, in complete contrast the listener is treated to a work of serenity and charm. A world away from the hard-hitting sounds of rock this album is a showcase of this musician's gift to create works of true beauty. In essence it is a synth/piano dominated album but an extremely well produced work throughout. So, clear your minds, relax and set your volume to low as we hit the play button on our cd players and enter the Dream state.

The opener 'Sun Willow' is very reminiscent of the maestro Vangelis with a grand piano and synth thematic melody. Before long acoustic guitar is added to the mix adding to the inoppressive nature of this and in fact all other tracks on this album.

'Time to Breathe' begins with a strong string section and guitar textures are added, followed by piano. A gentle acoustic guitar orientated mid-tempo percussive element is added together with effective pads. At 3 minutes the percussion dissolves under a wash of gentle strings and bell textures. A bass line kicks in together with the percussion as per earlier, but a slightly different and more prominent melody line is added.

'Butterfly' enters the fold on a bed of bell and ripple effects, together with slightly mysterious piano and strings melody line. A more definitive melody is encountered at around the 1 minute mark and eventually this subsides under a hybrid of sound currents. Sequence effects together with synth pads and string section lead to the distinctive piano motif as heard earlier on in the piece.

'Lucid Dreams' begins with subtle synth patterns with light chord changes. An effective sequencer pattern takes hold just before the first minute under a gentle percussive section, the former occasionally weaving in and out of the mix. This pattern disappears at 2 minutes and a lower texture is added together with a bell and synth hybrid and it is not long before the piano enters the fold, this time in slightly delayed motion. At just under 4 minutes the sequencer pattern enters again under an electric piano melody and light choral textures. There is more delayed piano to be heard carrying the piece to its conclusion.

'The True You' is the shortest track on the album and nestling in the middle of the set makes for a suitable interlude piece with its simple and melancholic solo piano melody and intermittent synth tonal textures.

Sparkling tones and synth textures grace track 6 'Blissful Moments', creating a somewhat effective start. A slightly obscure bass sound current enters leaving the listener with a feeling of being in some kind of utopian bliss. A slightly delayed acoustic guitar sequence together with melodic string section join forces to carry the piece forward but all too briefly this segment ends in an array of strings, effects and piano. Luckily for the listener this piece gathers ground again with the same sequence but is given more intensity due to new percussive elements.

'Age of Tranquillity' begins again in bell and effects territory. A light, subdued piano motif takes over eventually leading to melodic and slightly mysterious synth pads at just over the first minute. The piano returns in a pleasant finale.

'Soothe' is the longest track on the album and at a staggering 30 minutes is, as the title suggests a gentle and serene work, predominantly string and pad based with occasional piano thrown in for good measure. The piece weaves in and out of grand and thematic moments through to intermittent passages of melancholy beauty.