Trace - The White Ladies - 1976 (24/96 Vinyl Rip)

Trace was a Dutch progressive rock trio founded by Rick van der Linden in 1974 after leaving Ekseption. They released three albums before merging back into Ekseption.
"The last album of Trace you can listen now; I found a very good n.m. copy that shows another less "wilder" and a "more melodic" side of Trace". "Enjoy this enjoyable album; Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records".

Note > There are no gaps between tracks; gapless burning is -essential- to hear the album without interruptions.

Review:

This album is the third and last release of the Dutch band Trace. Although the band's name is TRACE, the line-up resembles EKSEPTION much more than TRACE (with Peter de Leeuwe on drums, Cor Dekker on bass, Dick Remelink on sax, all three former members of the old EKSEPTION). As such, it sounds much more like an EKSEPTION album than a TRACE album, classical themes interspersed with rock and jazz. With this album Rick deviates from the original TRACE concept, which was completely keyboard dominated, and he introduces sax, strings as well as a female singer (Hetty Smit).

Thus, the album sounds very different from the previous Trace albums, the music is more structured and refined, and the 'wild' element is restrained in favour of nuance and melody. The Dutch folklore story of the White Ladies is the source of inspiration for this album, which starts out with a narrative accompanied by strings. Most of the music is written by Rick van der Linden, but he has not forgotten to incorporate themes from Beethoven as well: in the song 'Pathetique' and 'The Rescue' Rick uses themes from Beethoven's 8th and 3rd sonata for piano.

In the tracks 'Dance of the White Ladies' and 'Witches' Dance' the 'wild' element steps into the spotlight, while in tracks like 'Doubts', 'Surrender' and 'Conclusion' the wild element leaves the spotlight to the melody. There are moments when the drums lack punch and imagination, and at these times the absence of the original Trace drummer Pierre van der Linden is felt. But, all in all, this is a very balanced album and I found it highly enjoyable.

DZ@Progarchives.com


Track List:

01 Legend I (Part 1)
02 Interlude I
03 Confrontation
04 Interlude II
05 Dance Of The White Ladies
06 Doubts
07 Trace I
08 Witches' Dance
09 Surrender
10 Interlude III

11 Pathetique (Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13)
12 Legend (Part 2)
13 Interlude IV
14 The Rescue (From Sonata No. 3 In C, Op. 2 No. 3)
15 Trace II
16 Back Home
17 Meditation (For René)
18 Flashback
19 Conclusion

Line-up / Musicians

- Rick Van Der Linden / Keyboards
- Cor Dekker / Bass
- Peter de Leeuwe / Drums
- Dick Remelink / Saxes, Flute
- Hans Jacobse / Additional Keyboards
- Hetty Smit / Vocals
- Harry Schafer / Narrato