Peter Yttergren is unlikely to be a name familiar to you. A drummer, pianist, singer, composer from Örebro, Sweden who, after several decades of session drumming, has finally gone it alone.

But the surprise is, this album sounds nothing like a solo album from a skins-man. It's a classic piece of AOR.

Raised on Genesis, and a healthy dose of West Coast soft rock, these are influences that are clearly visible across the whole of this excellent album.

This Land opens with a gentle beat, synth and keyboards. The vocals fall between pre and post Gabriel Genesis. It's a great opener and a taster of what's to come.

But it's a varied album - distinctly AOR, but with a number of instrumental / semi classical pieces thrown in, all of which add to the overall package. If Only is a brief piano / strings piece and MLE a semi classical flute / lead guitar number. Aftermath another track that wouldn't be out of place on a 1970s Camel album. And While I Breathe is a piece of solo acoustic work that wouldn't be out of place on a Jan Akkerman album.

The main meal though is an AOR smorgasbord. Emile is a stand out track - a lovely ballad, falling somewhere between Toto, and Steely Dan with some excellent lead guitar work from Bob Melanson. Lorraine is pure Don Henley meets Toto, influences appear again on the up tempo Make a Change and The Trail Of Our Past.

The more melodic Genesis influences resurface on In Another World, Without Your Heart. Nothing At All throws some wonderful sax into the mix on a schmaltzy number that could be a Henley/Collins duet. Unspoken is pure Henley.

Written and recorded over a 3 year period, Another World is a slice of melodic AOR as good as anything you'll find this side of your local branch of Ikea.

****

Review by Pete Whalley

This Land
© 2006 Nergretty Music. All rights reserved.

Label website

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly