Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator

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Flight of the Migrator
Flight of the Migrator cover
Studio album by Ayreon
Released 2000
Recorded 2000
Genre Progressive Metal
Length 65:36
Label Transmission
InsideOut Music
Producer(s) Arjen Anthony Lucassen
Professional reviews
Ayreon chronology
The Dream Sequencer
(2000)		 Flight of the Migrator
(2000)		 Ayreonauts Only
(2000)


Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator is a musical album composed by Arjen Anthony Lucassen and released under his project Ayreon. Flight of the Migrator is a metal opera, which is narrated across several eras which precede the existence of the known universe, with each era being interpreted by a different singer. Its story is preceded by Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer. Both albums were released individually in 2000 and later re-issued on a single package in 2004. The album focuses on heavier and more progressive songs, contrary to its melodic and atmospheric prequel. Also, themes presented on Flight Of The Migrator concern exclusively astronomy, contrary to the previous release's focus on world history. For information on the events which precede the happenings of both of the opera's albums, see the article on The Dream Sequencer.

Contents

[edit] Track listing, historical notes and technical information

[edit] "Chaos"

This instrumental track makes reference to a theoretical era which existed prior to the Big Bang. The digitalised voices on this song were provided both by Lana Lane and Erik Norlander. Norland also performs a synthesizer solo and Arjen Lucassen provides a guitar solo.

[edit] "Dawn of a Million Souls"

This song makes reference to the Big Bang itself, and according to Lucassen's fantasy, the primordial soul, the Universal Migrator — which subsequently divides into a million souls — is generated in this event. Vocals on this song were provided by Russell Allen and guitar solos were provided by Michael Romeo, both musicians are from Symphony X. Backing vocals were provided by Damian Wilson.

[edit] "Journey On the Waves of Time"

Vocals on this song were provided by Ralf Scheepers (from Primal Fear) and Erik Norlander performs a hammond organ solo.

[edit] "To the Quasar"

This song is divided in two movements, and its central theme are quasars. Quasars are astronomical sources of electromagnetic energy which output massive amounts of light. A Quasar may readily release energy in levels equal to the output of dozens of average galaxies combined. In this song Arjen Lucassen adopts the most widely supported theory concerning the origin of quasars as true, that is, he implies they are gigantic supermassive black holes. Vocals on this song were provided by Andi Deris (from Helloween), Rene Merkelbach and Erik Norlander perform a keyboard solo each, and Arjen Lucassen provides a guitar solo. Backing vocals were provides by Lana Lane.
  • First movement: The Taurus Pulsar
Pulsars are rotating neutron stars which are sources of electromagnetic radiation. This movement of the song speaks of a pulsar formerly located at the Taurus constellation, which imploded at some point in time.
  • Second movement: Quasar 3C 273
3C 273 is a quasar located in the constellation of Virgo. It is the optically brightest quasar in our sky and was the first object to be identified as what we now know quasars to be — extremely luminous objects at cosmological distances.

[edit] "Into the Black Hole"

This song is divided in three movements, and its central theme are black holes. Vocals on this song were provided by Bruce Dickinson (from Iron Maiden), Clive Nolan performs a synthesizer solo and Arjen Lucassen provides a guitar solo. Backing vocals were provided by Lana Lane.
  • First movement: The Eye of the Universe
  • Second movement: Halo of Darkness
  • Third movement: The Final Door

[edit] "Through the Wormhole"

This song makes reference to wormholes. In physics, a wormhole is a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that is essentially a shortcut through space and time, allowing matter to travel from one point to another much faster than it would normally be possible. Vocals on this song were provided by Fabio Lione from Rhapsody. Gary Wehrkamp (from Shadow Gallery) performs a synthesizer solo and a guitar solo. Backing vocals were provided by Lana Lane.

[edit] "Out of the White Hole"

This song is divided in three movements, and makes reference to several different concepts. Foresmost, white holes are highly theoretical celestial bodies that spew out matter. In other words, they are anti-black holes, or the time reversal of black holes, and are the point in which matter which travels a black hole would exit. Vocals on this song were provided by Timo Kotipelto (from Stratovarius and Kotipelto), Erik Norlander performs a synthesizer solo and Arjen Lucassen provides a guitar solo. The demo version of the song had vocals by Robert Soeterboek.
  • First movement: M31
The Andromeda Galaxy — also known as M31 or Messier 31 — is a giant spiral galaxy which approaches us at about 300 kilometres per second, so it is one of the few blue shifted galaxies. It is unknown whether it will collide with the Milky Way galaxy, but if the impact is to happen, it is predicted to occur in about 3 billion years. In that case the two galaxies will merge to form a giant elliptical galaxy.
  • Second movement: Planet Y
This movement makes reference to a previous album by Arjen Lucassen, Into the Electric Castle. "Planet Y" is a fictional planet in which lives a being called Forever. "Remember Forever", the final sentence of the song, is the final sentence of Into The Electric Castle.
  • Third movement: The Search Continues

[edit] "To the Solar System"

Vocals on this song were provided by Robert Soeterboek, who also wrote the vocal melody of the song and Arjen Lucassen provides a guitar solo. "Planet of Blue" is a metaphor that refers to the planet Earth.

  • First movement: Planet of Blue
  • Second movement: System Alert

[edit] "The New Migrator"

Vocals on this song were provided by Ian Parry, who also wrote the lyrics. Keiko Kumagai (from Ars Nova) performs a synthesizer solo and a hammond solo and Arjen Lucassen provides a guitar solo. Backing vocals were provided by Lana Lane. The song was mixed by Oscar Holleman. This song was originally composed by Lucassen and Parry during the time they were in the band Vengeance.

  • First movement: Metamorphosis
  • Second movement: Sleeper Awake

[edit] Summary of the Colonist's Journey

  • "Chaos" - the colonist decides to use the Dream Sequencer to travel back in time to before the Big Bang. The Dream Sequencer explains that the Universal Migrator is the very first soul of the universe. It also warns the colonist of the danger of going so far back in time.
  • "Dawn of a Million Souls" - the Universal Migrator is born.
  • "Journey On the Waves of Time" - the colonist begins his travel in search of Earth.
  • "To the Quasar" - the colonist passes the Taurus Pulsar and goes to the center of Quasar 3C273, hoping that its black hole will take him closer to Earth.
  • "Into the Black Hole" and "Through the Wormhole" - the colonist travels through the black hole of 3C273.
  • "Out of the White Hole" - the colonist exits the black hole through a white hole and reaches Andromeda (M31), passing through the fictional Planet Y, which is already populated. He decides to continue his search.
  • "To the Solar System" - the colonist approaches the Solar system, but eventually dies as the oxygen in Mars ends and the Dream Sequencer overheats.
  • "The New Migrator" - the colonist is told by the old Migrator that he is the new Migrator, and as his soul separates from his body, his new mission in the universe begins.

[edit] References

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