ERIK NORLANDER ‘The Galactic Collective: Live in Gettysburg’

(2CD/DVD) Think Tank Media/Gonzo Multimedia

Keyboards wizard Erik Norlander presents a lovely live double CD and accompanying DVD. The Galactic Collective allows Erik Norlander together his own personal ‘best of’ from his solo works, the Rocket Scientists and with his wife Lana Lane.

The show is introduced by Michelle Moog-Koussa, the daughter of Robert Moog whose instruments Norlander adopts and uses to the max. He has a beast of a Moog inspired monitor behind him and he really does get some otherworldly sounds from his Moog and other synths. The DVD adds between song commentary from Erik Norlander plus a bonus live version of the Lana Lane song ‘Garden Of The Moon’ (which strangely is recorded in Cleveland yet the rest of the DVD was recorded in Gettysburg). The two CD’s lose the intro speech and the between song background commentaries.

Here is much to enjoy from the synth/guitar heavy ‘Neurosaur’ (with guitarist Fredy DeMarco playing some seriously heavy riffs) through to the epic musical delights of ‘Sky Full Of Stars’, with Lana Lane on vocals. The playing on ‘Fanfare for Absent Friends’ is amazing and drummer Nick LePar lays down some classy hard rock/metal beats. It’s not all instrumental pieces as Lana Lane pops up a couple of times and ‘Hymn’ features wonderful harmonies. The music on here will please prog rock fans plus those who enjoy Tangerine Dream and Rick Wakeman.

A fine introduction to Erik Norlander’s various musical guises and works. As this is a live set there are little changes here and there to the original studio versions.

****1/2

Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)