Released :
4th of february 2002
Label : Verglas (www.verglas.com)
Total playing time : 68’47''
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Tracklist:
Overture 5’57 - The Curse Of The Baskervilles 6’14 - Three Broken
Threads 4’37 - Shadows of Fate 7’01 - A Home in The Mire – 4’52
- Run for your Life – 4’52 - Picture of a Lady – 3’41 - The
Argument – 4’48 - Second Light – 2’00 - Seldon – 4’57 -
Death on the Moor – 6’13 - By Your Side – 3’32 - Waiting – 5’29
- Chasing the Hound – 4’34
Musicians:
Oliver Wakeman and Clive Nolan: keyboards
Singers:
Bob Catley (Magnum), Tracy Hitchings (Landmarq), Ashley Holt (Rick
Wakeman Band), Michelle Young (Glass Hammer) , Ian ‘Moon’ Gould
(Landmarq, Dirtbox, Medicine Man) and Paul Allison (The Tree).
Guests:
Karl Groom (guitar)(Treshold), Arjen Lucassen (guitar)(Ayreon), Peter
Banks (guitar)(Yes), John Jowitt (bass)(IQ, Jadis), Tony Fernandez
(drums)(Rick Wakeman Band), Peter Gee (bass)(Pendragon), Eva Albering
(flute), Jo Greenland (violin).
Website:
www.verglas.com
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Just
as Jabberwocky, this CD combines the progressive rock style of Clive
Nolan (Pendragon, Arena, Strangers on a train, shadowland) and the style
of Oliver Wakeman that clearly refers to the epic musical works of his
father Rick. Altough their way of playing is totally different, it’s
not always easy to know who’s playing what. Their playing ensemble is
better than the sum of the parts, you know the proverb.
They
invited a lot of famous musicians and singers for their concept-CD. (See
above) A pitty that projects of this kind are hard to put on stage.
Usually,
I have difficulties to listen to CD’s with a narrator, because after a
while you know the plot of the story. On this album, the narrator is
Robert Powell (BBC comedy “The Detectives”) and he has a voice
that’s never boring and that even makes you listen.
The
Sherlock Holmes story “The Hound Of The Baskervilles”by Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle celebrates it’s hundred birthday and that’s a perfect
occasion to put it on music. I remember an old movie version, which was
very frightening. The typical lugubrious, misty sphere is the only thing
that’s missing on this CD. Some
songs are too cheerful for this story.
For the rest of the album, only positive critics. It’s
a must for the proglover. From time to time, you can recognize the Arena
style in the vocals. Ayreon is also present in the sound. (same sort of
project and off course the presence of Arjen)
The
CD opens with “Overture”. A bombastic, symphonic song that reminds
me of the opening of “The Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd
Webber.
A
simple clavecimbel melody is played through “The Curse Of The
Baskervilles” with vocals by Ashley Holt. Although very well sung, the
vocal melodyline isn’t the strongest.
The instrumental “Three Broken Threads” is one of those cheerful,
rythmic pieces that’s played in a perfect way, but that sounds to
happy for this story. It
doesn’t do any harm to the quality of the music, of course. (and
that’s still the priority)
In “Shadows Of Fate”, we hear Bob Catley for the first time on this
album. Beautiful vocals on a “Kashmir” rhythm. The music sounds as
if it’s played by a whole symphonic orchestra. (I had that feeling in
a lot of songs)
Paul Allison does the lead vocals on “At Home In The Mire”. A fluent
song with a beautiful guitar solo and a Moog synthsolo.
Tracy Hitchings, who already worked a lot with Clive, sings “Run For
Your Life”. The advantage of a CD with different vocals, is a lot of
variation. This gives the possibility of suddenly having a fresh, female
voice, which will only be improved by the other female voice of Michelle Young. “Run For Your Life” is a beautiful
ballad with a harder refrain and a “Bruce Hornsby” piano solo,
followed by a beautiful, typical “ballad” guitar solo.
“Picture Of A Lady” is one of the best songs. Bob Catley sings a
ballad (with a sort of “Neil Diamond hoarseness in his voice) that
starts of with only a piano, later filled with strings and a flute.
“The Argument” is a
song that strikes you by the singing together of Bob, Tracy and Paul. They
sing some sort of canon, but with different lyrics. (Impressive)
“Second Light” is a
short instrumental intermezzo, to let the narrator do his job. “Seldon” gives a chance to the vocal capacities of Ian Gould. There’s
a fantastic guitar solo on this number. (I
suppose it’s Arjen)
Electronic dog howling opens the instrumental “Death On The Moor”.
It contains a catchy melody that sticks in your memory, alternated with
a piece of narration.
“By Your Side” is the absolute peak of this CD, full credits to
Michelle Young. What
a voice. Kate Bush squared. A pitty it’s one of the shorter tracks. In
“Waiting” there’s a chance for every one to sing again. (again
with a mix of different vocal melodies and lyrics).
Last track “Chasing The Hound” gives its name full credit. It’s a
fast song with some synth and guitarsolos, of which there should have
been some more in the other tracks.
Conclusion
The
total sound of the CD is fantastic. Maybe a bit too often the narrator and a few more solos would have been
welcome. (with three guitars and two keyboards)
It’s also a pitty that you can’t find who’s playing on which song
in the booklet. With three guitars and two basses it would have been
easier to keep them apart.
It’s only january, and I’m already sure this CD will be in my list
of 2002. The formula of a lot of well known musicians has fantastic
results. (look at Leonardo, Ayreon and later this year The Bollenberg
Experience) On sale in the beginning of february 2002 and it’s a must.
Reviewed
by : Danny Focke
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