A little over twenty years ago, Arjen Anthony Lucassen anonymously released an album named, STRANGE HOBBY. The artist spot on the CD was left as a “?” A love letter to the psychedelic-pop era of music, 1965-1970, STRANGE HOBBY was recorded in Abbey Road studio and contained a total of eighteen covers.
It came out at roughly the same time that his ACTUAL FANTASY did. A totally different style, though, one that allows the perfectionist to let loose.
When Arjen Lucassen does some thing, he does that some thing perfectly.
The music of this brand new video is a cross between QUEEN and Lucassen’s own STAR ONE, but it’s still pure ARYEON.
As I’ve written before many times and will write again, I’m sure, Lucassen is a master story teller, a science fiction genius, building worlds as well as Frank Herbert and George Lucas.
Just look at the spectacular graphics of this video. Quite stunning.
This came this morning from Mascot Records:
| Hello Ayreonauts and other prog-lovers!
As many of you requested, here is the track list for the new Ayreon album The Source! Oh, and prepare for a BIG update this Thursday 🙂 Chronicle 1: The ‘Frame
1. The Day That The World Breaks Down 2. Sea Of Machines 3. Everybody Dies Chronicle 2: The Aligning Of The Ten Chronicle 3: The Transmigration Chronicle 4: The Rebirth |
This just arrived from Mascot and Arjen:
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Hi Ayreonauts!
Finally… we present you the front cover and the title of the new AYREON album!
Arjen: “The cover was made by the amazing Yann Souetre, he created all the artwork for the new album. Yann’s art inspired me enormously in the creative process of writing this album. The cool motion effects in the image below were done by David Letelier. Hope you like it as much as I do!”
If the animation doesn’t play in your email program, open the mail in your browser. Please note that the actual album cover won’t feature the animation.
Pretty soon we will let you know about the pre-order of The Source. Keep an eye on your mailbox or your Facebook and Twitter timelines. We’re skipping messaging by carrier pidgeon this time…
All the best,
The Ayreon Team
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Wow, really looking forward to this.
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Ok, this looks freaking amazing. Taken from Arjen’s website:
In September 2015, over the course of four sold-out shows, Ayreon’s legendary progressive rock concept album ‘The Human Equation’ was brought to life as a full-blown musical production at the Nieuwe Luxor Theater in Rotterdam. This limited run of performances was witnessed by die-hard fans from across the world, but now Arjen Lucassen’s story can be witnessed by all, as a recording of the final night of those special evenings is being released as both a DVD & Blu-ray package on the 17 June, 2016. ‘The Theater Equation’ is subtitled in nine different languages and includes nearly 90 minutes of bonus content.
Arjen comments: “Even today as I write this, I am amazed and touched by how hard everyone worked and how much love and care they generously gave to make it all happen. Sometimes the dream becomes reality!”
The stage show stars Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie in his original roll as “Me” and features nearly the entire cast of vocalists from the original 2004 album. The main cast is supported by the 19 members of the Epic Rock Choir, which was put together specially for this event.
The Theater Equation is a unique document of an undertaking that was surely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
CAST:
James LaBrie as ‘Me’
Jermain van der Bogt (Wudstik) as ‘Best Friend’
Devon Graves as ‘Agony’
Heather Findlay as ‘Love’
Eric Clayton as ‘Reason’
Magnus Ekwall as ‘Pride’,
Marcela Bovio as ‘Wife’
Irene Jansen as ‘Passion’
Anneke van Giersbergen as ‘Fear’
Mike Mills as ‘Rage/Father’
Nienke Verboom as ‘Nurse’
Peter Moltmaker as ‘Doctor’
Anita van der Hoeven as ‘Mom’
BAND:
Ed Warby: Drums
Jeroen Goossens: Flutes and woodwinds
Johan van Stratum: Bass
Maaike Peterse: Cello
Marcel Coenen: Guitars
Freek Gielen: Guitars
Erik van Ittersum: Keyboards/synths
Ruben Wijga: Keyboards/synths
Ben Mathot: Violin
The Epic Rock Choir
‘The Theater Equation’ will be available as a deluxe art book (ear book) version including a Blu-ray disc, 2DVD’s & 2CD’s. There will also be a special-edition 2CD & DVD digipack, and a stand-alone Blu-ray & digital download.
THE HUMAN EQUATION STORY
After a mysterious single-car accident, the victim – a man in his late 30s – lies comatose in the hospital. Before the accident he was a powerful businessman, wildly successful by any measure but also known for his cutthroat business tactics. Now he finds himself trapped in a prison that took him a lifetime to build: the prison of his own mind. Guarding the prison are his emotions, which have taken on vivid personas inside his mind. Some are friends, some are foes, and they all have their own agendas. Some aim to trick him or dominate him, others to comfort or inspire him. But the one objective they all share is to force him to face up to the demons of his past and the deep truths about who he is and how he’s lived his life, all of which he’s conveniently ignored until now. Fear, Rage, Agony, Love, Passion, Reason and Pride take turns engaging the man in this emotional warfare.
Two people hold vigil at the man’s bedside: his wife and his best friend. They are desperate to understand how the accident happened and to see even the tiniest sign that the man will regain consciousness. But the man’s recovery is not their only concern: is it possible that he somehow found out their secret, and that the “accident” wasn’t really an accident at all? Would he ever be able to forgive them? Will the man have the strength to face the truth about himself and the ones he loves? The story unfolds over his twenty-day emotional struggle with Fear, Rage, Agony, Love, Passion, Reason and Pride, in which each day of coma is represented by a song.
We’ll be keeping you updated about the release of the Theater Equation DVD in the weeks to come.
Progarchy 