Ayreon - The Final Experiment
| Release date: | 27 October 1995 |
| Style: | Progressive metal, Progressive rock |
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Owners: |
405 have it 25 want it 1 trades it |
Disc I
Prologue
01. Prologue
1 - The Time Telepathy Experiment
2 - Overture
3 - Ayreon's Quest
Act I: 'The Dawning'
02. The Awareness
1 - The Premonition
2 - Dreamtime (Words Become A Song)
3 - The Awakening
03. Eyes Of Time
1 - Eyes Of Time
2 - Brainwaves
04. The Banishment
1 - A New Dawn
2 - The Gathering
3 - The Accusation
4 - The Banishment
5 - Oblivion
Act II: 'King Arthur's Court'
05. Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy
06. Sail Away To Avalon
07. Nature's Dance
Act III: 'Visual Echoes'
08. Computer Reign (Game Over)
09. Waracle
10. Listen To The Waves
11. Magic Ride
Act IV: 'Merlin's Will And Ayreon's Fate'
12. Merlin's Will
13. The Charm Of The Seer
14. Swan Song
15. Ayreon's Fate
1 - Ayreon's Fate
2 - Merlin's Prophecy
3 - Epilogue
Disc II [2005 edition bonus]
01. Dreamtime
02. Eyes Of Time
03. The Accusation
04. Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy
05. Sail Away To Avalon
06. Nature's Dance
07. Waracle
08. Merlin's Will
09. The Charm Of The Seer [Feat. Robby Valentine]
Prologue
01. Prologue
1 - The Time Telepathy Experiment
2 - Overture
3 - Ayreon's Quest
Act I: 'The Dawning'
02. The Awareness
1 - The Premonition
2 - Dreamtime (Words Become A Song)
3 - The Awakening
03. Eyes Of Time
1 - Eyes Of Time
2 - Brainwaves
04. The Banishment
1 - A New Dawn
2 - The Gathering
3 - The Accusation
4 - The Banishment
5 - Oblivion
Act II: 'King Arthur's Court'
05. Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy
06. Sail Away To Avalon
07. Nature's Dance
Act III: 'Visual Echoes'
08. Computer Reign (Game Over)
09. Waracle
10. Listen To The Waves
11. Magic Ride
Act IV: 'Merlin's Will And Ayreon's Fate'
12. Merlin's Will
13. The Charm Of The Seer
14. Swan Song
15. Ayreon's Fate
1 - Ayreon's Fate
2 - Merlin's Prophecy
3 - Epilogue
Disc II [2005 edition bonus]
01. Dreamtime
02. Eyes Of Time
03. The Accusation
04. Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy
05. Sail Away To Avalon
06. Nature's Dance
07. Waracle
08. Merlin's Will
09. The Charm Of The Seer [Feat. Robby Valentine]
Review
Lyrics Arjen Anthony Lucassen - all instruments, vocals
Guest musicians
Mirjan van Doorn - vocals, backing vocals
Lucie Hillen - vocals, backing vocals
Ruud Houweling - vocals, backing vocals
Debby Schreuder - vocals, backing vocals
Barry Hay - vocals, alto flute
Ian Parry - vocals
Jan-Chris de Koeijer - vocals
Robert Soeterboek - vocals
Leon Goewie - vocals
Lenny Wolf - vocals
Jan van Feggelen - vocals
Edward Reekers - vocals
Cleem Determeijer - keyboards, synthesizers
Ernst van Ee - drums
Jolanda Verduijn - bass, backing vocals
Peter Vink - bass
Jan Bijlsma - bass
René Merkelbach - backing vocals
Additional info
Recorded at The Electric Castle Studio, South Holland
Length : 71:19
Label: Transmission Records
Producer: Arjen Anthony Lucassen
Originally penned Ayreon: The Final Experiment 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.
Prologue
The prologue is narrated by the character Merlin. He explains that scientists living in the future, in the year 2084, have developed a method of sending messages back in time, using a process called time telepathy. Having seen earth narrowly avert destruction from a variety of causes in the time leading up to 2084, humanity's ultimate hope rests with this experiment. These scientists must warn denizens living in the past of the future that awaits them, so that they may take preemptive action to prevent humanity's decline and ultimate destruction.
Act I: "The Dawning"
The setting changes to 6th century Britain, and introduces the blind minstrel, Ayreon. He receives the message sent with time telepathy, and after a lifetime in darkness, is able to see the images of the future. Ayreon knows nothing of the details related to the message he received, who it came from, or when. Believing the message to be sent by the Lords of Time, he sets off to sing of humanity's upcoming demise, through songs of environmental disaster, pervasive computer technology, and war. Such predictions are frightening to his 6th century audience, and the villagers who hear his words soon throw him out of town.
Act II: "King Arthur's Court"
In this act, cast out of his village, Ayreon travels to the domain of King Arthur. His reputation as a minstrel permits him entrance to Arthur's court, where Ayreon is able to sing of his visions to the crowd.
Act III: "Visual Echoes"
Merlin, the wizard of King Arthur's court, becomes jealous of Ayreon's extra-sensory perception of the future. He is dissatisfied with the message spread by the minstrel, and convinces the court that Ayreon's visions are not genuine.
Act IV: "Merlin's Will and Ayreon's Fate"
Deeming it necessary to silence the minstrel bringing him grief, Merlin curses Ayreon, which results in a permanent inability to communicate. Merlin soon recognizes he was in error, but too late, and Ayreon's message is quelled. That is, until the end of the 20th century, when Merlin predicts another minstrel will receive the message predicting humanity's downfall.
All songs written by Arjen Lucassen.
Rating:
7.5
7.5
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Rating: 7.5 |
This was not a beginning. This was The Beginning. It was a daring beginning, for the time of rock operas was long past, things in the vain of The Who "Tommy" or "Jesus Christ Superstar" hadn't been done in ages. And in 1994 Dutchman Arjen Anthony Lucassen began to carry out the project of rock opera, a project combining different music styles, different singers and a science fiction story to back this all up. Read more ›› |
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Comments
Comments: 9
Visited by: 369 users
| Vonpire Posts: 471  |
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| Erik M. Posts: 3104  |
Written by Vonpire on 26.06.2012 at 19:16 You don't get it. It's supposed to be like that... however, if that's the thing you don't like, then I guess it's only logical to not like the album. I think it's a great album, though most of his later albums are better than this.
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099  |
Frankly if you don't have some level of appreciation for this album you can't possibly enjoy later Ayreon releases. This is basically the blueprint for all those to follow, not to mention where the name comes from and where the core theme originates.
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| Vonpire Posts: 471 |
Written by R'Vannith on 07.12.2012 at 10:10 You're right, I don't ! 
---- Beware the Shadows of Dusk
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Written by Vonpire on 26.06.2012 at 19:16 totally agreed, just like all of Arjen's other stuff. Beyond me that people actually enjoy this stuff immensely and think it's great
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Erik M. Posts: 3104 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 07.12.2012 at 18:26 I do agree a lot of his stuff is cheesy, but the few things that make Ayreon great is the fact that he uses a lot of different musicians for his albums (characters), making it unique and original. Furthermore, every album is just a part of one bigger story, so the lyrics and themes of the songs basically tell the story. If you're not into that kind of thing, I can understand you don't enjoy it. All I can say is that even if you haven't enjoyed listening to The Human Equation or Into The Electric Castle (my favourite), then Ayreon is definitely not for you (which it probably isn't).
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| JohnDoe Account deleted |
JohnDoe
Account deleted Written by Erik M. on 09.12.2012 at 22:59 I agree with Marcel and I am one of them progheads  ; I find this band's music not only cheesy but pompous and pretentious (both lyrically and musically).
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| Dzidziafon Posts: 23 |
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| majormalfunction Posts: 1508  |
Always liked this one a lot. It's a bit too long for it's own good but there's plenty of highlights scattered throughout, which makes it worthwhile.
---- Everything's twice as bright with money in your hands
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