Andre Andersen
"Changing Skin"
(SPV/Steamhammer GmBH)
SPV has just re-released all of this Russian/Danish composer keyboardist's work with Royal Hunt. On this album Andre, steps away from his band and goes it solo. Since this album was released Royal Hunt's DC Cooper has left the band and is recording a solo album. "Changing skin" is not a far stretch from the Royal Hunt material, most of which is deep and unapproachable symphonic hard rock.
This album is no exception, the shortest of the 6 tracks clocks in at 6:11 while the longest lasts 9:17. A pop album this is not! However this highly complex type of progressive rock must have an audience as Royal Hunt and Andersen are hugely popular in both Europe and Japan. Japan's Burrn Magazine routinely features Andre at the top of its best keyboardist year-end poll, in fact he has gotten this accolade the last three years in a row.
It is no surprise to hear that Andre is half White Russian royal blood. His music seems to harken back to the music of Tchaikovsky, Borodin, and Shostakovich. His music both solo and with Royal Hunt is deep enough to be the soundtrack to any Tolstoy, Gogol or Dosteyevsky novel brought the big screen.
Andersen obviously would not mind being compared to these great Russians writers and composers. I am sure sooner or later my Andersen will compose and record a symphony with the Moscow symphony orchestra.
This is not easy accessible music and will no doubt be hated by most of the rock listening public. "Changing Skin" is to my mind more accessible that any of the work he has done with Royal Hunt. Like the cover of the album, which because of its snake skin colouring is hard to read, this album is deep and hard to get into, but in the end rewarding. This is an album for those times when Dream Theatre is just not deep enough.
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