New Grove Project, The - Fool's Journey

Year of Release: 1997
Label: NGM
Catalog Number: NGMCD 9601
Format: CD
Total Time: 47:08:00

Roine Stolt, along with another cornerstone from Swedish progressive rock, Pär Lindh, can be heard on Fool's Journey by The New Grove Project. The pivot on which everything hinges is Ingemar Hjertqvist, a Swede who now lives in Switzerland. A couple of years ago he released his demos on CD. By now the limited run of 300 copies is probably scattered all over the world giving it the status of "collectable in the making."

Five of the seven tracks on the demo have now been re-arranged in order to find their way onto Fool's Journey. The remarkable thing about this album is the contribution of drummer Jode Leigh, the man who used to be behind the drum kit with legendary band England (yes, the one that released the ever splendid Garden Shed). His typical way of drumming (he uses no snare) gives the New Grove Project a unique sound that has to be situated in between Flower Kings and a more rhythmic Pär Lindh.

In "Prelude" the sound of the organ is rather dominant whereas in "My Uncle" it is the brilliant drumming of Jode getting all the top marks! The instrumental title track "Fool's Journey" kicks off as refreshing as Vivaldi's "Spring" from his Four Seasons opus, with mainly Roine Stolt demonstrating his many skills, whilst often getting close to the sound of Steve Howe.

By using Pär Lindh the band could record in his Crimsonic studio which also gave them the opportunity to use an authentic Mellotron MK-V and Hammond B3. In the new song "Decision" elements from the "old" Genesis melt together with Happy the Man and England in order to deliver something new and unique. An interesting project that will surely evolve in the future.

Tracklisting:
Prelude (4:45) / My Uncle (8:22) / Where Am I Going From Here (6:13) / Decision (7:01) / Fool's Journey (7:53) / Anguish (5:42) / The Ladder (8:32)

Musicians:
Ingemar Hjertqvist - vocals
Per Sundbom - keyboards
Roine Stolt - guitars
Jode Leigh - drums, percussion
P?r Lindh - keyboards
Andr? Schornoz - bass

Discography:
The Demos (1994)
Fool's Journey (1997)
Brill (2005)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin SE

Added: April 1st 2000
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.newgroveproject.com
Hits: 4490
Language: english