Procal Harum are one of the best kept secrets of the British Rock scene apparently because I have rarely even heard their name uttered in the three decades I have been absorbing music. What’s even more amazing is that it took only roughly one-third of the majestic “Grand Hotel” to make a fan of me! This show was recorded (as it states in the title) live with the Danish National Orchestra and Choir in 2006 at the Ledreborg Castle grounds on Denmark in front of a massive audience. The release comes over forty years after their U.K. #1 hit “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which is, of course, included in this performance.
This is available as a CD and a DVD but I’ll just deal with the CD for the purposes of review. In my opinion, the CD is the best way to go as the show is fairly slow moving to watch so really you get all you need from the CD version unless you are die-hard fan. The performance kicks of with “Grand Hotel.” since I have no recollection of ever hearing any of these songs I was bowled over by how powerful and epic, yet strangely intimate “Grand Hotel” feels in this context. It’s easy to tell who bands like Styx and a generation of Prog Rock bands were influenced by. Vocalist Gary Brooker seems as easily able to sing with a bluesy swagger as he is an epic adventure or a rock hit, yet he does it all just on “Grand Hotel!”
Other highlights include the neo-classical sound of “Fires (Which Burnt Brightly).” For my money, this is the song that benefits most interestingly from the partnership with the Danish National Orchestra and Choir. The Choir in particular is absolutely beautiful. The emotive “A Salty Dog” and the bluesy “A Whiter Shade of Pale” are great as well but, to be honest, there really isn’t a bad song included in this performance. I love the story oriented lyrics and the majestic feel that the orchestra and choir bring to the music. Procal Harum are far from the first band to try to marry rock with the symphony (and even the band themselves have tried before and failed) but for this performance it absolutely works beautifully. Every song fits brilliantly, drawing the listener in with every step forward.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
