The Final Experiment, originally Ayreon: The Final Experiment, is a progressive metal/rock opera album released in 1995 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. Originally with no artist noted, at the suggestion of the record label the subject was later detached, and used as the name for what was to be Lucassen's Ayreon project.[1]
In 2004, Arjen moved to a new record label, InsideOut - with this move came re-issues of all the previous Ayreon releases, including The Final Experiment. This re-issue includes a bonus CD featuring nine re-worked recordings of tracks (or segments of tracks) found on the original album with different singers and all acoustic instrumentation.[1]
The Final Experiment introduces several concepts which appear in future Ayreon albums, such as mankind's propensity for war ("Waracle"), polluting earth's environment ("Listen to the Waves"), or the gratuitous use of technology and computers in human society ("Computer-Reign (Game Over)").[2] The latter concept appears overtly in the tracks "Computer Eyes" from Actual Fantasy, and "Web of Lies" from 01011001, as well as "Evil Devolution" from Into the Electric Castle.
[edit] Creation
After leaving Vengeance in 1992, Arjen began working on writing and recording some solo material, with his newfound creative freedom. Finding motivation to commercialize the new music from his record company, Arjen released his first solo album in 1993 under his middle name, Anthony, entitled Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy.[3] The album lacked a musical direction, and became a heterogeneous mixture of styles and genres. While the album was not commercially successful, it formed the groundwork for the Ayreon project to come.[4]
A number of albums from the 1960s and 70s featuring common stylistic threads made a lifelong impact on Arjen. The dynamic and exciting music, emotionally driven lyrics, and an ensemble cast found in albums such as Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and The Who's Tommy, commonly referred to as rock operas, inspired Arjen to create one of his own. Working in an environment where he could develop an album exactly as he wanted, Arjen intended to create his vision, making no compromises along the way. His vision manifested itself in The Final Experiment and, after being rejected by several different record labels, was picked up by a small Dutch record label.[5] The project was financially burdensome, but through some subsidization from his father, it was seen through to completion, and was successful enough to warrant another Ayreon release.[6]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
| 1. |
"Prologue" (I. "The Time Telepathy Experiment" / II. "Overture" / III. "Ayreon's Quest") |
3:16 |
| 2. |
"The Awareness" (I. "The Premonition" / II. "Dreamtime (Words Become a Song)" / III. "The Awakening") |
6:36 |
| 3. |
"Eyes of Time" (I. "Eyes of Time" / II. "Brainwaves") |
5:05 |
| 4. |
"The Banishment" (I. "A New Dawn" / II. "The Gathering" / III. "The Accusation" / IV. "The Banishment" / V. "Oblivion") |
11:08 |
| 8. |
"Computer-Reign (Game Over)" |
3:24 |
| 9. |
"Waracle" |
6:44 |
| 10. |
"Listen to the Waves" |
4:58 |
| 11. |
"Magic Ride" |
3:35 |
| 12. |
"Merlin's Will" |
3:20 |
| 13. |
"The Charm of the Seer" |
4:11 |
| 14. |
"Swan Song" |
2:44 |
| 15. |
"Ayreon's Fate" (I. "Ayreon's Fate" / II. "Merlin's Prophecy" / III. "Epilogue") |
6:55 |
|
Total length:
|
76:17 |
| Vocals |
| 1. |
"Dreamtime" |
Astrid van der Veen |
4:19 |
| 2. |
"Eyes of Time" |
Ruud Houweling |
3:25 |
| 3. |
"The Accusation" |
Rodney Blaze |
3:49 |
| 4. |
"Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy" |
Esther Ladiges |
2:50 |
| 5. |
"Sail Away to Avalon" |
John JayCee Cuijpers |
3:26 |
| 6. |
"Nature's Dance" |
Peter Daltrey |
2:03 |
| 7. |
"Waracle" |
Marcela Bovio |
5:16 |
| 8. |
"Merlin's Will" |
Irene Jansen |
3:29 |
| 9. |
"The Charm of the Seer" |
Robby Valentine |
3:29 |
|
Total length:
|
37:41 |
[edit] Personnel
- Vocalists
- Arjen Lucassen as Ayreon on "Nature’s Dance," "Listen To The Waves," "Magic Ride" and "Ayreon’s Fate".
- Barry Hay as Ayreon on "Sail Away To Avalon."
- Edward Reekers as Merlin on "Prologue," "The Awareness" and "Ayreon’s Fate;" as Ayreon on "The Awareness" and "Ayreon’s Fate".
- Ian Parry as Nobleman on "Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy," as Ayreon on "Computer Reign" and as Merlin on "Ayreon’s Fate".
- Jan-Chris de Koeijer as Ayreon on "The Banishment".
- Jay van Feggelen as Ayreon on "Waracle" and as Merlin on "Ayreon's Fate".
- Lenny Wolf as Ayreon on "Eyes Of Time".
- Leon Goewie as Merlin on "Merlin's Will" and "Ayreon's Fate;" as Ayreon on "Ayreon's Fate".
- Robert Soeterboek as Villagers on "The Banishment" and as Merlin on "Ayreon's Fate".
- Ruud Houweling as Ayreon on "The Charm Of The Seer".
- Debby Schreuder as Merlin, Women and Villagers on "Ayreon's Fate;" as Chorus on several tracks.
- Mirjam van Doorn as Merlin, Women and Villagers on "Ayreon's Fate;" as Chorus on several tracks.
- Lucy Hillen as Ayreon on "The Charm Of The Seer;" as Chorus on several tracks.
|
- Instrumentalists
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen – guitar, bass, keyboards, synthesizer
- Cleem Determeijer – keyboards
- Ernst van Ee – drums
- Jan Bijlsma – bass
- Jolanda Verduijn – bass
- Peter Vink – bass
- Rene Merkelbach – keyboard
- Bonus disc instrumentalists (2005 reissue only)
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen – acoustic, electric, and bass guitars, drums, percussion and timpani
- Davy Mickers – drums
- Peter Vink – acoustic bass guitar
- Marieke van der Heyden – cello
- Ewa Albering – flute
- Lori Linstruth – electric guitar solos
- Jeroen Goossens – assorted wind instruments
- Dewi Kerstens – cello
- Robby Valentine – piano
- Artwork
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen
- Ruud Houweling
- Richelle Rijst
- Jacoby Peters
- Technical
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen – producer
- Oscar Holleman – engineer
|
[edit] References
