"Solo" album from renowned European musician & producer, Ken Ingwersen, whose CV, primarily as guitarist includes Ken (Uriah Heep) Hensley, Evenrude, Rags, Speed, Jack In The Box and Street Legal.
He's also well known for producing TNT's groundbreaking 'Transistor' album, a release that polarised opinion amongst fans.
Since 2000, Ingwersen has successfully immersed himself in the European and Asian pop industry, writing and producing many hit songs for a plethora of bands.
There's an instrumental or two here, but wisely, he's has brought in a bunch of guest vocalists - Nils K (Pagans Mind) Larue, Glenn Hughes, Chesney Hawkes (honest) and (whatever happened to) Tommy (21 Guns) LaVerdi.
The title - 'Reincarnation' - suggests that this album represents Ingwersen's rebirth as a rock music artist. And yes, that's clearly true, but there's such a variety of styles on show - often within the same song - it would be impossible, and inappropriate anyway, to forcefit Ingwersen's music into a stylistic straitjacket.
Fans of the man will immediately recognise his trademark heavy guitar virtuosity, stamped indelibly on the first two tracks, the comparatively economical
'Forever' and the geetar bonanza,
'Keeping The Flame Alive', full of slashing riffs, sharp elbowed solos and grand metallic flourishes.
Contrast that with the drifting beauty of acoustic instrumental,
'El Recreo' and with
'I Surrender'. Constructed around a classy piano chord progression and epic strings, this song is the perfect vehicle for a disciplined, emotive vocal performance from Glenn Hughes.
That said, outstanding vocal performance goes to Hawkes on the shuffling contemporary poprock of the title track,
'Reincarnation'. You can hear Enrique singing this one. Well, almost.
Ingwersen merges his pop and rock, writing and production styles in crafting another two of the album's outstanding tracks,
'Set This Angel Free' and
'Rain', with more of a focus on melody and mood.
Elsewhere, the Zaza like '
Momentos A Solas' and the pounding, classic metal track, '
Come Alive', a
Rainbow /
Deep Purple metalfest, with different vocalists sharing the stage, succeed on several levels. Unfurling clean, crisp 3D sonics and finely tooled textures, both tracks demonstrate Ingwersen's mastery, with the mixing desk, the six string and with the songwriter's pen.
It's no wonder he's always in demand.
Written by
Brian Monday, August 30, 2010
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