The Final Experiment

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The Final Experiment
The Final Experiment cover
Studio album by Ayreon
Released 1995
Recorded The Electric Castle Studio, South Holland
Genre Progressive metal
Length 71:19
Label Transmission Records
Producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen
Ayreon chronology
The Final Experiment
(1995)		 Actual Fantasy
(1996)

The Final Experiment is a progressive metal album released in 1995 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. 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.[1]

In 2004, Arjen moved to a new record label, InsideOut - with this move came re-issues of all the previous Ayreon releases, including The Final Experiment. This re-issue includes a bonus CD featuring nine re-worked recordings of tracks (or segments of tracks) found on the original album.[1]

Contents

[edit] Plot

[edit] 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.[2]

[edit] 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.[2]

[edit] 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.[2]

[edit] 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.[2]

[edit] 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.[2]

[edit] Track listing

Prologue - Track 1
Act I: 'The Dawning - Track(s) 2-4
Act II: 'King Arthur's Court - Track(s) 5-7
Act III: 'Visual Echoes - Track(s) 8-11
Act IV: 'Merlin's Will And Ayreon's Fate - Track(s) 12-15

  1. "Prologue" - 3:16
    • The Time Telepathy Experiment
    • Overture
    • Ayreon's Quest
  2. "The Awareness" - 6:36
    • The Premonition
    • Dreamtime (Words Become A Song)
    • The Awakening
  3. "Eyes Of Time" - 5:05
    • Eyes Of Time
    • Brainwaves
  4. "The Banishment" - 11:08
    • A New Dawn
    • The Gathering
    • The Accusation
    • The Banishment
    • Oblivion
  5. "Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy" - 2:45
  6. "Sail Away to Avalon" - 4:02
  7. "Nature's Dance" - 2:27
  8. "Computer Reign (Game Over)" - 3:24
  9. "Waracle" - 6:44
  10. "Listen To The Waves" - 4:58
  11. "Magic Ride" - 3:35
  12. "Merlin's Will" - 3:20
  13. "The Charm Of The Seer" - 4:11
  14. "Swan Song" - 2:44
  15. "Ayreon's Fate" - 6:55
    • Ayreon's Fate
    • Merlin's Prophecy
    • Epilogue

Bonus disc

  1. "Dreamtime" (vocals by Astrid van der Veen of Ambeon and The Endorphins) - 4:19
  2. "Eyes of Time" (vocals by Ruud Houweling) - 3:25
  3. "The Accusation" (vocals by Rodney Blaze) - 3:49
  4. "Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy" (vocals by Esther Ladiges) - 2:50
  5. "Sail Away to Avalon" (vocals by John JayCee Cuijpers of Parris) - 3:26
  6. "Nature's Dance" (vocals by Peter Daltrey) - 2:03
  7. "Waracle" (vocals by Marcela Bovio of Stream of Passion and Elfonía) - 5:16
  8. "Merlin's Will" (vocals by Irene Jansen) - 3:29
  9. "The Charm of the Seer" (vocals by Robby Valentine) - 3:29


[edit] Personnel

[edit] Vocalists

  • Arjen Anthony Lucassen as Ayreon on Nature’s Dance, Listen To The Waves, Magic Ride and Ayreon’s Fate.
  • Barry Hay (Golden Earring) as Ayreon on Sail Away To Avalon.
  • Edward Reekers as Merlin on Prologue, The Awareness and Ayreon’s Fate; as Ayreon on The Awareness and Ayreon’s Fate.
  • Ian Parry (Elegy) as Nobleman on Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy, as Ayreon on Computer Reign and as Merlin on Ayreon’s Fate.
  • Jan-Chris de Koeijer (Gorefest) as Ayreon on The Banishment.
  • Jay van Feggelen as Ayreon on Waracle and as Merlin on Ayreon's Fate.
  • Lenny Wolf (Kingdom Come) as Ayreon on Eyes Of Time.
  • Leon Goewie (Vengeance) as Merlin on Merlin's Will and Ayreon's Fate; as Ayreon on Ayreon's Fate.
  • Robert Soeterboek (Cotton Soeterboek Band) as Villagers on The Banishment and as Merlin on Ayreon's Fate.
  • Ruud Houweling (Cloudmachine) as Ayreon on The Charm Of The Seer.
  • Debby Schreuder as Merlin, Women and Villagers on Ayreon's Fate; as Chorus throughout several songs.
  • Mirjam van Doorn as Merlin, Women and Villagers on Ayreon's Fate; as Chorus throughout several songs.
  • Lucy Hillen as Ayreon on The Charm Of The Seer; as Chorus throughout several songs.

[edit] Instrumentalists

[edit] Bonus disc instrumentalists (2005 reissue only)

[edit] Artwork

[edit] Trivia

  • "Computer Reign (Game Over)" is the first song Lucassen writes about the massive and excessive use of computers. This songs deals with the uncontrolled development of technology; the second, "Computer Eyes" from Actual Fantasy deals with a person who cannot contradistinguish the real world from the virtual one; the third song, "Web of Lies" from 01011001 deals with two internet date-service users that are in love but, as the man delayed with his reply for 11 days, the woman simply forgot him and changed him for another user.

[edit] External links

[edit] References and footnotes

  1. ^ a b Arjen Lucassen's Biography
  2. ^ a b c d e The Final Experiment at Ayreon.com, features lyrics, album personnel, and storyline.
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