EMMENS, GERT -PROJECT- - MEMORIES (2013 PROG ALBUM FROM DUTCH KEYBOARDER)

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Long established Netherlands “Synth” musician with over 20 CD’s under his belt (inc collaborations) now has a Progressive Rock album in his repertoire!

Now, I have to say that with most “EM” artists this would not be good news to my ears, because the transition is not easy if you don’t have a good understanding of what fans on the genre are looking for in an album of keyboard driven Prog, but when I heard that Gert Emmens was doing one I suspected he would do it well, and I’m pleased to report that this certainly is the case!
Always known for his strong sense of melody and solid structure within his music, Emmens was, I suppose, the ideal candidate to approach such an album, and ‘Memories’ has done him proud.

Emmens is obviously familiar with the works of the major Prog bands and seems to have incorporated all of the popular “Prog” sounds on ‘Memories’, without overdoing any of them, exhibiting strong skills as a composer, keyboards player, arranger and producer, but then those of us familiar with his earlier “EM” work know this, and just what he is capable of.
The styles crossover the Wakeman-esque style of melodic Mini-Moog runs to sweeping symphonic workouts similar to Nick Magnus & Patrick Moraz, with solos that bring the likes of Eddie Jobson (U.K.) to mind, making music that will appeal to anyone with an ear for strong melodic keyboard playing.
I’m taking it that Emmens has created the guitar, bass and drum parts himself as well, and these are very good too.
On the album’s nine tracks there are a few short passages of male vocals (from Gert) on three tracks, and male / female on one track (Emmens with Cadenced Haven), but these are minimal and nothing to be concerned about.

As usual Emmens offers a generous playing time on ‘Memories’ – in excess of 77 minutes – and it’s quality instrumental music from start to finish. On such an undertaking, slightly weaker moments are bound to crop up, and to be 100% honest there are a few parts that are a bit on the “twee” side for me, but these are so few and far between that it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the album as a whole, and as such, I would recommend ‘Memories’, especially to anyone with a liking for both the Synth and Prog genres, who are almost certainly going to get into the album – I know I have!

GERT EMMENS PROJECT: MEMORIES Track List:

01. Flight Into Nostalgia (6:12)
02. When Dreams Come True (8:36)
03. One With Nature (6:48)
04. Caught In Despair (10:09)
05. Evocation – Parts 1, 2 & 3 (7:43)
06. Daydreaming (9:26)
07. Waves Of Dreams – Part 2 (8:49)
08. Lost In Memories (8:24)
09. Thoughts Of You (11:35)

TPT – 77:52