Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The invitation is clear, Come On In, pull up a chair, revel in the sound and the ambience and then stay awhile, reflect upon what the invitation meant and how pleasing the result is.

Invitations are sent with glad tidings, the recipient is aware of how much may be at stake, the source filled with trepidation and pride at what they wish to bestow upon the visitor as soon as they enter the domain of the intended gift. It is in that music present that Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado stand at the door of expectancy and hover by the light switch of illumination, ready to parade the exhibit; under the glare of scrutiny and absolute conviction stands Come On In and it is one that surely the fan and the inquisitive will find easy to submit to.

The tenth album by Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado is no less intense than its illustrious predecessors but as the welcoming title suggests there is a spirit of enticement weaved carefully throughout the songs, a measure of tempting engagement placed for all to witness as they cross the threshold of the musical abode.

Across songs such as Last Train, Nobody But The Moon, Sin City, On And On and Love So Fine, Thorbjorn Risager and the band set the standard for intrigue, of exploration within the timing and the musical framing of each tracks narrative. It is not so much an invitation, as an offering, a proposal of recommendation with the allure of passion of a well-versed guide standing by ready to instruct and lead the way through the open-air exhibition hall to the moment of full and glorious appreciation.

There is no reason to turn down an invitation, there is even less comprehension in objecting to inspiration, and that is in a nutshell what this new album by one of the leading exponents of Danish culture and music has in store for the listener, a set of songs that stand proudly as a piece of work given centre stage, no hiding in shadows, no fear of getting lost within the heartbeat of the unveiling of the structure. All that you need to know is that you were invited by someone with a gift to bestow, and by stepping over the threshold you are guaranteed to feel the honour of having done so.

Ian D. Hall