TRACE

Imagine a 17th-century cathedral organist suddenly transported to a 1974 recording studio with a wall of synthesizers and a world-class jazz-rock rhythm section. This is the sound of Trace: a relentless, harmonically dense exploration of what happens when classical discipline meets the raw power of progressive rock. It is music that demands your full attention, rewarding you with intricate layers of Hammond B3, Mellotron, and even harpsichord.

What sets them apart is the sheer technical audacity of Rick van der Linden. While many of his contemporaries used keyboards to create atmosphere, van der Linden used them as a lead weapon, firing off rapid-fire runs and complex counterpoint that feel like a high-wire act. The rhythm section, featuring members from Focus and Solution, provides a muscular, jazz-inflected foundation that keeps the music from ever feeling too stiff or academic.

Start with their self-titled 1974 debut. It is the purest distillation of their 'supergroup' energy, featuring breathtaking reinterpretations of classical themes alongside original compositions that showcase a band at the absolute peak of their technical powers. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who loves the bombast of ELP but wants something with a slightly more European, baroque sensibility.