Universal Migrator
Remco - DPRP
May 2000
Dream Sequencer: The first of two albums, The Dream Sequencer opens with the title track, a tremendously Floydian opener of the likes of Shine On, Marooned, or even the opening track of Water's Amused To Death, The Ballad of Bill Hubbart. You know the style: keyboards hitting chords and a crystal clear electric guitar over it.
My Home On Mars: This track could have come directly from the Electric Castle. Don't believe the marketing texts claiming Lucassen has written something completely different, since almost all tracks on both albums could have been on the Electric Castle as well. The good vocal interplays between the male and female voice of After Forever's Floor Jansen, combined with the well-known bombastic keyboards (mainly trying to imitate horns etc. and of course containing the obligatory portamento/pitchwheel effects that drag the melody up and down) make this a good track.
2084: A fantastic track, mysterious and dark, with the excellent voice of Lana Lane, Nolan on keyboards and a really "sympho" rhythm. However, now Lucassen's mistake of putting the atmospheric pieces on one CD and the heavier ones on the other becomes painfully apparent: this track would have been much more powerful when preceded by a more forceful rock piece.
One Small Step: One Small Step featuring Edward Reekers of Kayak-fame describes the first moon landing. The main melody is a bit "I heard this all before in the eighties", but sticks to mind, even including the Floydian background chicks and guitar solo. The short synth solo that follows reveals the hand of Eric Norlander, who, as Rocket Scientists, recently has produced an album with massive keyboard work.
The Shooting Compagny of Captain Frans B. Coco: The opening could have come from Alan Parsons but quickly dissolves into one of these typical Ayreon tracks. The middle section sounds stolen from one of the composing sessions of Floyd's Echoes. There's no denying it: if you love the Floyd, you'll love these tracks!
Dragon of the Sea: OK, where's the action ?! Yet another dreamy piece with a lot of electronic noises and Rocket Scientists keyboard work. Definitely not one of the strongest tracks on the album. The end melody rememinded me even of ABBA, and that is not a recommendation.
Temple of the Cat: Temple of the Cat is a short piece and featured as a single, a curious little composition. Different melody lines tumble over eachother. No drums, very much focussed on melody, almost like a classical string quartet.
Carried by the Wind: Sung by Lucassen himself, his has a folky tune. Funny how the use of lots of electronic instruments almost cover up the traditional melody.
And the Druids Turned To Stone: Like stung by a bee I jumped up when I first listened to this song, went to the stereo and cranked it up until it almost exploded: it was Damion Wilson with his Holy Voice lifting this otherwise average track to the sky! I really adore his voice when he is able to use it well (which I think was not the case on The Electric Castle). The track itself is forcibly kept calm, each time you think it should explode, it collapses again :-(. Some Vangelis-like keyboards top the track off.
The First Man on Earth: A bit Beatlesque track (what else do you expect with Neil Morse on vocals), relatively uptempo compared to the other tracks and an easy-to-remember chorus. The powerful guitar solo in the middle is quite cool.
Dream Sequencer Reprise: Well, ehhh, a reprise. Smells like Floyd, tastes like Floyd, sounds like Floyd. WHERE'S GILMOUR?
Conclusion:
The individual tracks are all good, some even excellent, but putting them on one album just doesn't work. After three tracks you wonder when it's going to start, in the middle it starts to get annoying and at the end you realise it never took off. Based on the high quality of the compositions, performance of the different artists and production it gets a 9, but due to the general impression the overall grade will be lower. Tip: buy both albums and make two CD's out of them yourself by mixing the two albums, this will improve both. Unless you're a story-line freak of course.