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Ayreon

Ayreon is a Dutch music project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon has an original musical style which derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with different genres to form what some call a completely new style of music.

Ayreon's music is characterized by the combination of mellow rock and metal, often within the same songs. Use of rare instruments to support the more conventional rock instruments is common for Ayreon.

History

The first Ayreon CD, released in 1995, is The Final Experiment, a story of a man in 6th century Britain who begins to receive messages from scientists in the year 2084 when humankind has almost destroyed itself in a final great war. The album features thirteen singers and seven instrumentalists, most of them Dutch. The Final Experiment is often mentioned as one of the first metal operas and a reviver of the rock opera genre.

Ayreon albums are written by Arjen Lucassen who also sings and plays instruments on each album. All albums feature many guest musicians.

Actual Fantasy from 1996 is the only Ayreon album without a continuous story. With its individual fantasy stories, it can still be considered a concept album though. There are "only" three singers and three instrumentalists on Actual Fantasy.

Into the Electric Castle - A Space Opera (1998) is considered by many as the best Ayreon album. The double album is a story of eight people from different eras of humankind, locked together in a weird "place of no-time and no-space". There, a mysterious voice talks to them, guiding them on their quest to find a way home through the Electric Castle. This story full of science-fiction clichés is told in psychedelic rock by eight singers (along with a few supporters), each playing a role of a single character, and eleven instrumentalists.

The twin album The Universal Migrator (2000) features a science fiction story of the last human alive, living in the Mars colony. In the story of the first CD, Universal Migrator, Pt. 1: The Dream Sequencer, he begins a trip back in time to flashbacks of different peoples' memories during human history, using a device called Dream Sequencer. This first album consists of soft, atmospheric progressive rock. Later, he "pre-incarnates" further back, all the way to the big bang in the heavy second album, Universal Migrator, Pt. 2: Flight of the Migrator. Again, both of these albums have about ten singers supported by many instrumentalists. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) made an appearance on Flight of the Migrator, being probably the best-known musician to appear on an Ayreon album.

The latest Ayreon release is The Human Equation, released in 2004. As on Into the Electric Castle, there are several singers, each playing their own role. With The Human Equation, Ayreon turned away from the usual science fiction and fantasy themes with a story taking place inside the head of a man lying comatose in a hospital bed after a bizarre car accident in broad daylight, with no other cars in sight.

Starting in 2004, Arjen began rereleasing his Ayreon catalog, with enhancements ranging from basic (The Universal Migrator, issued as a two-disc set instead of two separate albums) to drastic (Actual Fantasy, "Revisited" with completely re-recorded drums, bass, synth and flute). In 2005, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Ayreon, The Final Experiment was reissued with a bonus semi-acoustic disc; this reissue is not yet available in the United States.

Discography

  • The Final Experiment (1995)
  • Actual Fantasy (1996)
  • Into the Electric Castle (1998)
  • Universal Migrator, Pt. 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000)
  • Universal Migrator, Pt. 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000)
  • Ayreonauts Only (2001)
  • The Human Equation (2004)

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In 2005, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Ayreon, The Final Experiment was reissued with a bonus semi-acoustic disc; this reissue is not yet available in the United States. The reunited Big Star returned to Ardent Studios in early 2004 to work on a new album, and a biography of the group was planned for publication later in that year. Starting in 2004, Arjen began rereleasing his Ayreon catalog, with enhancements ranging from basic (The Universal Migrator, issued as a two-disc set instead of two separate albums) to drastic (Actual Fantasy, "Revisited" with completely re-recorded drums, bass, synth and flute). Around 2000, Big Star was introduced to a whole new generation of fans after a version of their song 'In The Street' was used as the title song for the sitcom That '70s Show.. With The Human Equation, Ayreon turned away from the usual science fiction and fantasy themes with a story taking place inside the head of a man lying comatose in a hospital bed after a bizarre car accident in broad daylight, with no other cars in sight. Other Big Star releases include Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93, a recording of the first reunion show; Big Star Live, a 1974 radio broadcast from Long Island; and Nobody Can Dance, a recording of the last Big Star show, at Memphis' Overton Park. As on Into the Electric Castle, there are several singers, each playing their own role. This was followed by tours of Europe and Japan, as well as an appearance on The Tonight Show..

The latest Ayreon release is The Human Equation, released in 2004. Chilton and Stephens reunited in 1993 with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the American pop band the Posies taking the place of Bell (who died in a car crash in 1978) and Hummel (who left music to go into engineering) at the University of Missouri. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) made an appearance on Flight of the Migrator, being probably the best-known musician to appear on an Ayreon album. The 1980s saw a generation of new alternative bands, such as R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub and the dB's, citing Big Star as a major influence. Again, both of these albums have about ten singers supported by many instrumentalists. In the late '70s, critics began to cite Big Star's albums as among the finest of the decade, and an important precursor to new-wave rock music. 2: Flight of the Migrator. In addition, Third is considered one of the most lyrical pop albums ever recorded.

Later, he "pre-incarnates" further back, all the way to the big bang in the heavy second album, Universal Migrator, Pt. This album was finally released four years later, on the PVC label, as Third. Although ramshackle and by all accounts left incomplete, Third (retitled Third/Sister Lovers for its 1992 CD release, and also known as Beale Street Green) combines the confessional approach of John Lennon with a distinct pop sensibility that recalls everyone from the Left Banke to the Velvet Underground. This first album consists of soft, atmospheric progressive rock. After recording tracks for a planned double album in late 1974, Big Star again disbanded. 1: The Dream Sequencer, he begins a trip back in time to flashbacks of different peoples' memories during human history, using a device called Dream Sequencer. Big Star soon disbanded for a brief period, but then reformed and released Radio City (1974), the group's magnum opus, which features two of Big Star's most famous songs, "September Gurls" and "Back of a Car." (Bell seems to have contributed to the album.) In spite of unanimous critical acclaim, the album did not sell well; Hummel quit and was replaced by John Lightman. In the story of the first CD, Universal Migrator, Pt. Bell, who seemed to resent the fact that many writers regarded Alex Chilton as the group's frontman, and who was bitterly disappointed by the failure of #1 Record to sell, left the group in 1972 for a solo career.

The twin album The Universal Migrator (2000) features a science fiction story of the last human alive, living in the Mars colony. Ray didn't last long, and was replaced by the former singer of the Box Tops, Alex Chilton. Their first album, # 1 Record, was released in 1972, but distribution problems with their label (Ardent) meant the album barely sold. This story full of science-fiction clichés is told in psychedelic rock by eight singers (along with a few supporters), each playing a role of a single character, and eleven instrumentalists. Originally called Rock City and Ice Water, the group was formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971, consisting of Chris Bell (vocals, guitar), Steve Ray (guitar), Andy Hummel (bass) and Jody Stephens (drums). There, a mysterious voice talks to them, guiding them on their quest to find a way home through the Electric Castle. They were not the first power-pop group (that honor could go to any number of artists, including the Everly Brothers and Badfinger), but they are regarded by many critics and listeners as the quintessential group of the genre. The double album is a story of eight people from different eras of humankind, locked together in a weird "place of no-time and no-space". Their reputation, negligible in 1974, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.

Into the Electric Castle - A Space Opera (1998) is considered by many as the best Ayreon album. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concise songs with hardly a wasted moment. There are "only" three singers and three instrumentalists on Actual Fantasy. Their spare and elegant approach not only recalls the British Invasion groups but also brings to mind the minimalist, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label. With its individual fantasy stories, it can still be considered a concept album though. Drawing upon the pop-music past--especially the Beatles, the Byrds, the Who, the Zombies, Moby Grape and the Beach Boys--Big Star re-invented literate, powerful and at times melancholic pop for the post-'60s generation. Actual Fantasy from 1996 is the only Ayreon album without a continuous story. Big Star was an American rock and roll band of the early 1970s whose work is often cited as a prime example of power pop.

All albums feature many guest musicians. Ayreon albums are written by Arjen Lucassen who also sings and plays instruments on each album. The Final Experiment is often mentioned as one of the first metal operas and a reviver of the rock opera genre. The album features thirteen singers and seven instrumentalists, most of them Dutch.

The first Ayreon CD, released in 1995, is The Final Experiment, a story of a man in 6th century Britain who begins to receive messages from scientists in the year 2084 when humankind has almost destroyed itself in a final great war. Use of rare instruments to support the more conventional rock instruments is common for Ayreon. Ayreon's music is characterized by the combination of mellow rock and metal, often within the same songs. Ayreon has an original musical style which derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with different genres to form what some call a completely new style of music.

Ayreon is a Dutch music project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. The Human Equation (2004). Ayreonauts Only (2001). 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000).

Universal Migrator, Pt. 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000). Universal Migrator, Pt. Into the Electric Castle (1998).

Actual Fantasy (1996). The Final Experiment (1995).