03. marts, 2006 09:25
Review by Endre 'Bandi'
The first time I reviewed a Troels Skovgaard album [check it in our archives] I joked about his name. Since then I have learned it pretty well because his self-titled album was one of the highlights of 2003 with a 9 pointer rating. Now he is back with a double CD to top that performance and what the hell, it's a perfect 10 pointer this time [something I do not hand out too often? actually I can't even remember the last time I gave an album such a high rating, I definitely didn't do so in 2005].
The "No Matter How Far I Go" package contains a disc with vocal tracks only and an all-instrumental disc in a very tasty cardboard folder with a booklet of fantastic images. Value for your money for sure! Musically the album picks it up where the solo debut left off: laid-back, high-quality blues-rock with various influences from jazz to funky, from traditional northern melodies to Italian and latin influences. The arrangements are even more vivid than on the debut and the production is simply stunning. Troels' vocals are soulful, crystal clear, and very diverse, his playing is either laid-back jazzy or in-your-face edgy bluesy; the solos are full of emotions, they are essential parts of the songs not just cheap excuses to show off. Countless musicians contributed to the album but Troels handled the production himself again. My personal favorites of the vocal disc included the opening title track, the uptempo "Satellite" with a cool acoustic chording base topped with tasty, bluesy guitar work and thick, melodic vocals; the tradiotional blues "Treat Me Nice", the moody, soulful "The Sun is Still Shining" with a great vocal performance from Troels and a soft-jazzy version of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child".
However the real treat was the instrumental disc that starts out with three tracks of Italian influences (at least Troels says so, I personally didn't hear all that much of Italy in them but anyway) the opening "Opemeo" features beautiful sax melodies by Fabrizio Mandolini (Italian influences there you go!). "Procida" follows in somewhat laid-back fashion with equally stunning flute melodies by Justo Almario and some Santana-like latin- blues solo towards the end by Troels. The Italian titled acoustic third track is probably the most Italian of the three with some more flute to spice things up. Great stuff all of them! The following tracks take us back to the musical world of the debut, some laid-back blues, some slow-blues, some jazzy-blues, and lots of tasty blues. Further favorites: "Song for Leon" with brilliant acoustic soloing and cool sax parts; "Just a Dream Away" with its moody, movie-soundtrack approach; and the closing "Brighter Day" with a rather similar mood. I may be getting old but I began to appreciate this kind of stuff a lot more than classic rock/metal guitar-playing I grew up with. Damn, I hope I won't grow a beer-belly and watch darts tournaments on TV?