Bjorn Lynne Reviews

Also see: e-Progeny CD

Bookmarks: The Gods Awaken ~ Phoenix ~ Revive

From: Stephen Ellis
Frankly I have EVERYTHING BJORN HAS DONE. I have all the Dr. Awesome, The Worms soundtrack (okay, it makes a better soundtrack for a game than music) and each Bjorn CD. I am waiting for the newest release. The Void is my tops right now (again, haven't heard the new release). Dreamstate is way good, but so is Witchwood, and Montage. However, if you haven't heard hOBbits & SpACesHipS then you are missing the key link (as in the missing link between apes and humans). hOBbits... mixes Bjorn's birth w/his mentor Seppo Hurme. This to me is a key Bjorn CD and a must for anyone who cherishes GREAT Electronic Music. and Bjorn, if your listening, on my radio show your stuff has been a big hit.

From: Bjorn Lynne
My name is Bjorn Lynne, I'm originally from Norway. I've been writing and producing music, playing various instruments, since the mid 80's. My debut album "Hobbits & Spaceships" was self-financed and self-published in 1992, then followed another self-financed and self-published album, "Montage", in 1994. After that, I got a deal with Centaur Discs, and released my first "widely available" album "Dreamstate" in 1995 on Centaur. At about the same time, I decided to give music a shot as a full time activity, so I quit my daytime job in Norway, and moved to England to see if I could make it work, and make a living on just music alone. And well, I'm still here, so it must have worked out somehow. :-) I then did an album called "Witchwood" on the italian label "Mellow Records" in 1996, and then I got in touch with the Cyclops label, where I released the album "The Void" in 1997, and finally in 1998 I released the album "Wizard of the Winds", also on Cyclops. My music is somewhere in between progressive/symphonic rock and electronic music. It probably started out closer to electronic, but as time has passed, it's moved more and more towards progressive, and I guess my latest album "Wizard of the Winds" is probably closer to sympho-rock than it is to electronic. This is not really something I've "decided" to do, it's just the way things have worked out. The music is getting good reviews, so I must have been doing something right, although, of course I've never been on any kind of top-40 list of anything like that. Recently I would say that my main influences include The Flower Kings, Ritual, Porcupine Tree and many many many many others. The big ones included of course, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, etc. etc... My discography: 1992: "Hobbits & Spaceships" (now sold out / deleted); 1994: "Montage"; 1995: "Dreamstate"; 1996: "Witchwood"; 1997: "The Void"; 1998: "Wizard of the Winds"; ...and coming spring 1999: "Wolves of the Gods". There are sound clips from all these albums on my web page http://www.lynnemusic.com in case someone should be interested in checking out what they sound like. Oh, and I also write music for interactive CDROMs and computer games.

From: Jim Englund <>
I received a new CD last night that really deserves mention. Bjorn Lynne's 'Wizard of the Winds' [aka 'When the Gods Slept']. The music is really outstanding, though I could do without the spoken word 'story' at the beginning of each track.  If you like lush synths and very expressive guitar playing, you NEED this CD. Check it out at Bjorn Lynne's web site: http://www.us.lynnemusic.com/lynne/wizard.html

From: "Mark Fonda" <>
>From: "Jeff Marx" <>
>Hey Bjorn, What's your most keyboard-laden/keyboard-oriented album (if you've got one of those)? :)
I'm sure Bjorn will respond himself, but my favorite is 'Dreamstate' followed by 'The Void'.  Bjorn's music is rock-oriented electronic music... synthesizers, sequencers and some e-guitar... all played by Bjorn himself. Futuristic, space and time themes... very classical but with a harder edge than most e-music.  If you're not sure if you like straight e-music (like say, Tangerine Dream or Jean-Michel Jarre), give Bjorn Lynne a try. Also see the previous reviews, including a good biography/discography from Bjorn himself at http://www.geocities.com/~e-prog/bands/lynne.htm

From: "Bjorn Lynne" <>
>From: "Jeff Marx" <>
>Hey Bjorn,What's your most keyboard-laden/keyboard-oriented album (if you've got one of those)? :)
Hi Jeff! I would say my most keyboard-laden albums are "Dreamstate" (1995) and "The Void" (1997). I guess they're sort of, keyboard-produced symphonic rock... or something like that. (Whatever, I don't really know what to call it). Some RealAudio from The Void is at http://www.us.lynnemusic.com/lynne/thevoid.html Some CD quality MP3 tasters from The Void and Dreamstate are at: http://www.mp3.com/bjornlynne.

From: "Mark Fonda" <>
Bjorn Lynne - Wolves of the Gods (UK, 11 tracks, 70 min.)
Bjorn has truly outdone himself with 'Wolves of the Gods'... undoubtedly his best album yet, IMO.  This is his second release of music based on the novel by Allan Cole of the same name.  It is an all-instrumental album unlike the first, 'Wizard of the Winds', which had some spoken words for narration. This has written text in the liner notes to go with the music.  As usual, Bjorn plays a vast assortment of instruments including acoustic & electric guitars, bass guitar, keys, voices, percussion, programming and miscellaneous.  He also has additional solo guitar from Rory McLeish on 4 of the tracks.
Much of the album is very classically oriented with orchestral instrumentation such as strings and woodwinds combined with solid rock elements like percussion and guitar.   There are sections which are more folk and blues oriented too... and also hard rock with some very good guitar work!  It is hard to compare Bjorn's music to anyone else since it is a unique blend of electronic, prog, folk and classical.  Perhaps Lindh/Johansson 'Bilbo' or Ayreon 'Into the Electric Castle' (sans vocals) come closest, but I'd have to say the best description is a mix between Rick Wakeman, Eloy and Pink Floyd.  The guitar is much more prominent than the keys on most tracks... the keyboards are there though, providing symphonic richness along with many special effects to produce suspense and drama. This album keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole length!   VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED... an early pick for one of the best albums of the year!!
The album can be previewed and purchased at: Official Bjorn Lynne web page: http://www.lynnemusic.com Also check out his new Divinorum 'Isms' release which is a trance-techno style similar to Asana or Tranceport... very good too!

From:
Dear Progheads, I've just received the CD listed above from CD NOW. If Im not mistaken Mr. Lynn is a member of this list. Bjorn, fantastic work, I've absolutely loved every minute of it since the first listen. What's really amazing is that I'm a great fan of Role Playing Fantasy Games, and this type of music fits perfectly when "geeking". :) I'm very interested in your other works, if any, and additional suggestions. Congrats on the album, its an epic to my heart!

From: "Bjorn Lynne" <>
>But now I would like to pose you two hard questions :-)
>1st - Is your progressive project "Wizard + Wolves" intended to be a trilogy, or not?
Yes, it is a trilogy. The first two parts have been released:
1) Wizard of the Winds, 2) Wolves of the Gods, the third on will be released in 2001 or maybe 2002: 3) The Gods Awaken
>2nd - In the affirmative case, will we have (again) a narrator on the 3rd album?
Only 1) "Wizard of the Winds" has a spoken narration between the songs. 2) "Wolves of the Gods" does not have any spoken narration between the songs. The fans didn't want it! :-) 3) "The Gods Awaken", I haven't made any final decisions about this, but it will probably not have any narration between the songs. But it will still have *written* narration by Allan Cole.

From: bryan herdman <>
I received my copy of Bjorn Lynne's new CD late last week and though I'd pass on my impressions after the first few listenings. The CD is called 'Phoenix, the music' and is apparently the soundtrack for the computer game of the same name (English and German playable demos are also on the CD). The music is mainly martial and stirring with brass and percussion dominating. One can almost see the storm troopers parading. Bjorn calls this his first orchestral CD and the orchestration is quite full with countermelodies and interplay of themes. On occasion spacey sounds are heard amongst the orchestra. There is good dynamic range, but with the subject material, loud predominates. The attack by the wind instruments is particularly effective - some of the 'splats' sound downright human (he used a breath controller on a synth). Percussion is quite effective and varied around a frequent martial snare drum. The length of the CD is approximately 56 minutes and was all done with synthesizers. I quite like it - actually I might prefer it to Wolves of the Gods, but that might depend on which one I heard most recently :) There is a description of the creation of this work at www.lynnemusic.com which might interest some folks. There are also some MP3's on the site.

From: "Bjorn Lynne" <> I would just like to let you know that my new album "Revive" has been released this week. Well, no, actually let me correct that... it hasn't really been 'released' yet (not until later this spring), but I have got special permission to sell the CD directly from my personal site, already now, a few months before the actual release. I announced the new CD on my electronic newsletter 3 days ago, and actually sold about 320 CDs within 48 hours! (Of which 180 were the new release, and the rest was various CDs from my back-catalogue). The music on the new CD "Revive" is, well, e-prog. It's symphonic rock, but with lots of electronics (as well as guitars, bass-guitars, etc), ticks in at 72:35 and I've been getting very good reactions to it so far. There are some audio-clips (MP3 and RealAudio) available on my site. If you would like to listen / see / order / whatever, please go to http://www.us.lynnemusic.com/lynne/revive.html Bjorn Lynne: "Revive" Release: May/June 2000 Available exclusively from Bjorn Lynne personal web site: Now. Published by: Cyclops - Cat. no. CYCL 087

From: "Richard Zywotkiewicz" <> Subject: REVIEW - BJORN LYNNE'S REVIVE
Hi, everyone. Having sampled Bjorn Lynne's new cd, REVIVE, here's my review that will soon appear in ProgVisions and Progressive World. A fine CD, highly recommended:
REVIEW: If you like instrumental music with diverse layers of keyboards - mostly synthesisers - blended seamlessly with electric and acoustic guitars, then Bjorn Lynne's new CD Revive is for you. It contains over 72 minutes of some of the finest compositions you'll likely to come across in that musical tapestry.  Lynne has been putting out at least one CD a year for the past 6 or 7 years. While his diversity allows him to explore many audio landscapes, Lynne usually fares mostly comfortably in the spacey Tangerine Dream universe, though his melodies are more memorable and certainly less repetitive.
Despite a more modern approach in the beginning, Rivive's songs progress to a more "classic" period of space rock by track 5. My personal tastes adhere to these sounds far more assuredly, but I must confess Revive is a strong disk from start to finish.
"12th Warrior" begins things with a dynamic, modern rhythm as characterised by a definitive melodic synth and sharp arrangements. Some strong lead guitar augment the keyboard foundation. "Bridge to the Universe, part one" slows things down a bit, and its soaring textures are a precursor to the soundscapes on the latter half of the disk.
"Himalayan Summit" carries a catchy melody and out-manoeuvres the post 80s Tangerine Dream sound, placing melody and arrangement above the concept of simply using the cool sounds of synthesisers to drive a beat. A wonderful, tasty piano solo follows, reminiscent of Rick Wakeman's pre-new age period.
"Moon Gazer", track 5, is one of the many really strong tracks on this CD, and it is the first to really embrace the more analogue sounds of the 70s. The track also sports the second appearance of lead guitarist Rory McLeish. Though Lynne plays guitar on this album as well, McLeish adds a certain bite that will satisfy those who have an appetite for excellent lead guitar.
The 70s influences continues with "Space Deliria 2000", which begins with swirling synth soundscapes, then builds into another guitar/synth interplay. "Niagara" follows. A ripping lead synth eventually segues into a funky, Latin sounding refrain. I must say the percussion is particularly strong on this track. While the rest of the album contains electronic (but magnificently executed) percussion, the percussion here has an exotic element that is almost impossible to achieve electronically. I only wonder how Mr. Lynne was able to pull it off.
"Empty Spaces 2" is another short piano piece, a bit more atonal than the first, but effective none-the-less. "Cosmos", at over 11 minutes, lives up to the magnitude of the title. Soft, Vangelis-type snippets build on a steady rhythm. This track has a very definite early Vangelis sound, full of the mood and wonder of his classic mid-seventies era. But Lynne takes the music further, providing soft, ethereal moments that wisp between the more anthemic themes. And when this song soars, it lifts you into the heavens. There is an excellent change about halfway through, which rocks. Lynne's edgy rhythm guitar is a testament to his musical diversity. Again, some effective drum programming underscores the many variations in this song.
By track 10, "Session", you've already long had your money's worth on Revive. Against the backdrop of choral sampling, Lynne's finger dances between shrieking synth leads, and more traditional sounds. "Bridge to the Universe, part 2" is no weaker, combining the most imaginative moments of seventies Tangerine Dream with Lynne's own precision.
"Union City Conspiracy" is a bonus track and certainly not one of the best on the CD, but by this time, who cares? Revive is one of the strongest key-driven instrumental works in a long time. Though one can't really call it progressive, it certainly is miles above even the best of what most in that genre have to offer. This is simply because Lynne knows how to write great melodies, and his sense of arrangement is top-notch.
If you've never heard them, early Lynne efforts are commendable as well; and their brilliant packaging is icing on the cake.

From: August Smarra <> Subject: Re: Opinions on new tracks please
Bjorn Lynne wrote: > > I would appreciate it if some of you prog/sympho fans out there would > be so kind as to check out two songs previewed for my next CD, and let > me know any comments you might have. > > The two new tracks are "Protarus!" and "Jooli", available at > http://www.mp3.com/bjornlynne > > Thanks in advance.
The only comment I have is "Wow!!" I highly recommend anyone that is into Symphonic Prog,to listen to these two tracks from Bjorn Lynne on MP3. This is some of the best composition and arranging of this style that I've ever heard and I've been listening to this style since it's inception. This isn't some chopfest just trying to show how good he can play but believe me the chops are there. Bjorn concentrates on incredibly beautiful sonic arrangements and haunting melodies with high emotional impact. This is the kind of stuff that got me into Prog in the first place.
We need to support this fine member of our group and all the other great Prog musicians out there so we can continue to enjoy great music like this.
So how long before we can get the CD?

From: "Bjorn Lynne" <> Subject: Re: Bjorn's "Protarus"
>I just want to say that I got to hear Bjorn's Protarus track and it's >right up my alley.One of these days(when I have cd$)I'm going to get his >latest one! >Pete
Thanks for the encouraging words, Pete!  I also got an email earlier today, which totally blew my head up to about 3 meters in diameter. Fred Schendel from the band Glass Hammer wrote to me and told me that he had just "discovered" my music, that he absolutely loved it.. and he ordered several of my CDs from my web site!!! This was awesome.. I'm a Glass Hammer fan myself! This was WAY cooler than the first time I saw my CD in a record store :-)

From: "Carlos Lima" <> Subject: Bjorn Lynne
Hi folks, I don't know if anybody else already wrote anything about Bjorn Lynne's new album - The Gods Awaken. I feel I must say something about it :-) Well... this new album is outstanding! It has lots of keyboards, including some great and inspired solos, but the guitars are, definitely, the highlight of the album :-) I would like very much to know if the "mandolin" on "Jooli's Song" (track 3) is a keyboard or an acoustic guitar? A very "symphonic" piece of music, where the orchestral atmosphere adds a lot and is well balanced. After my first listening I feel the missing of some lyrics, but now I prefer this instrumental album because the music is so beautiful you must be 100% concentrated so you could enjoy it :-) Definitely my favourite album of the year, so far. You should pay attention to this one. Congratulations, Bjorn ;-)

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