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: : Ayreon – Actual
Fantasy Revisited : : |
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Band/Artist
Ayreon
Title:
Actual Fantasy Revisited
Released
2005
Label
InsideOut |
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Track List:
1. Actual Fantasy
2.
Abbey of Synn
3.
The Stranger from Within 4. Computer Eyes
5.
Beyond the Last Horizon
6.
Far Side of the World
7. Back on Planet Earth
8. Forevermore
9.
The Dawn of Man |
: : The Players : :
Arjen A.
Lucassen: Guitars, Keyboards | Peter Vink: bass guitar | Ed Warby: drums
| Ewa Alberink: Flute | Robert Soeterboek: Vocals | Edward Reekers:
Vocals | Okkie Huysdens: Vocals | Cleem Determeyer: Synth solos | Rene
Merkelbach: Hammond, synth solos |
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: : Actual Fantasy Revisited : :
Wouldn’t it be great if more bands could go back to their previous
albums in this way and make them sound like they were originally
intended to? I know the revisionist concept is not always a popular one
(George Lucas endless fiddling with the Star Wars movies a case in
point), but if there is a good enough reason for doing it and the end
product is one of better quality, then why not?
And in this case, it does indeed work. Originally released in 1996 Actual
Fantasy was Arjen Lucassen’s second Ayreon album, and aside from some
guest musicians was a largely self-made effort. At the time Arjen made
the decision to use pre-programmed drums rather than use a drummer. This
was a common practice at the time, particularly among
multi-instrumentalists like Arjen. However, as time moves on those
pre-programmed drum rhythms tend to date horribly, and it means that the
songs often don’t have that much needed kick behind them that a strong
rhythm section would provide.
So, just one of the reasons for re-recording this album was to add real
drums (courtesy of Ed Warby) – but Arjen has also decided to go further
and redo the bass parts with Peter Vink, and certain guitar and keyboard
parts too. And much more…
I have to say that this is an exceptionally well put together package.
As with most of the Ayreon albums, the artwork and liner notes are
superb and informative. As well as full lyrics, an explanatory essay on
Arjen’s reasons for redoing the album, there are also song-by-song
breakdowns detailing not only the story behind the lyrics, but any
instrumental and vocal changes made for the new version.
The first CD contains the original 1996 recording. The newly recorded
version of the album on the second disc has also been mixed in 5.1 sound
on DVD (I wish all albums were recorded this way), and an accompanying
piece of CGI animation with lyrics has been put together to accompany
each song. For added bonus there is a video clip to accompany the track
Stranger From Within, which was produced to accompany the song at the
time of the original albums release. Finally, there is a short
featurette showing Arjen, Peter Vink and Ed Warby in the studio
recording their parts for the new version. For those of you wondering
how Arjen gets his trademark guitar sound, this is well worth watching.
An awful lot of work has gone into this album, and if you are a fan of
the original, and are wondering whether to upgrade, I would say definitely
yes.
But what about the music?
Well, I think around this time Arjen was still refining what would
become the definitive Ayreon sound. His metal roots still come through
quite strong, though it’s obvious he likes to add a lot of color to the
songs with the use of old fashioned synth sounds, complex guitar parts
and layered vocal arrangements. But if there is one criticism I have of
some of Arjen’s early material is that a lot of the tracks tend to slip
into a slow to mid-paced steady groove and chug along there quite
merrily. Listen to two or three of those in a row and it can slow the
pace of the album down. Add to this the use of choral-style backing
vocals and some of the lead vocals being sung in a fairly low register,
and the effect can sometimes be a bit funereal. On later albums I found
there were usually more variation and experimentation.
However, there is still some great material here. Stranger From Within
is still very impressive, and kicks ass like it never did before thanks
to the newly added bass and drums, though occasionally the stereo panned
vocals in the chorus sound a little unnatural in 5.1. Computer Eyes is
another great track, which climaxes with some newly added, terrific
guitar/synth interplay from Arjen.
Far Side Of The World is one of my faves from the album, probably
because it’s one of those songs where everything gels - the accompanying
visuals on the DVD fit the subject perfectly, and the song has a very
positive and upbeat feel to it. With the lyrics scrolling across the
screen as well the effect becomes quite hypnotic, especially with the
rather trippy, Hawkwind-style keyboard solo near the climax.
The gentle, delicate Forevermore is a welcome change of pace, and
climaxes with a catchy, sing along chorus. Things get really serious
with the albums closing track, The Dawn Of Man, an epic track based on
Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘2001 – A Space Odyssey.’ Swirling synths, treated
vocals, crunching guitars and some wonderful accompanying visuals, which
will please fans of the film, no end.
Not perhaps Ayreon’s best album, but a good album nonetheless which is
much improved in this new version.
Rating: 8/10
Reviewer: John Morley
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Actual Fantasy Revisited - 2004
The Human Equasion - 2004
Ayreonauts Only - 2000
Flight of the Migrator - 2000
The Dream Sequencer - 2000
Into The Electric Castle - 1998, Special Edition 2004
Actual Fantasy - 1996
The Final Experiment -1995
Star One
Live on Earth - 2003
Space Metal - 2002
Ambeon
Fate of a Dreamer - 2001
Anthony
Pools of Sorrow / Waves of Joy (1983)
: :
Record Label : :
InsideOut
: : Bonus Dvd : :
Actual Fantasy Revisited 2004 – 5.1 Surround Mix
Actual Fantasy 1996 – original version
Video clip The Stranger from Within – 5.1 & 2.0
Featurette: Recording drums, Bass and Guitar 2004 |
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