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Tireless, full of ideas and projects, the Dutch multi -instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen returns to the scenes from (almost) soloist with the new “Songs No One Will Hear”. But, unlike the title, fortunately we will all have the good fortune to hear them, these excellent songs.
And if only one year has passed from the remarkable live album of the concert held in Tillburg and from the release date they will pass only a few days compared to the next event in the town now home of the Ayreonauti (enthusiasts and faithful followers of one of the musical forms of the Most High and nice Arjen), it is equally true that in reality there have been thirteen years that they did not see new releases with his only name and surname (“Lost in The New Real is now now” of 2012). And from that distant 2012 we find a common thread also in this new work, with characters who return (Dr. Slumber) and a similar writing with the idea of the narrator (in that case he was actor Rutger Hauer) who presents us with the various events on the disc.
Furthermore, compared to the latest releases, in this guise Arjen takes almost all the tools: as well as in the writing phase of the texts and music, he is the mind of everything. This is not a negative element, given that the Dutch giant has always shown a volcanic mind; The only step of difference compared to the super productions of the Ayreon or Star One are perhaps the lesser orchestral parts and the intertwining of the simplest sung parts.
But we will see during the examination that, in the case of this new “Songs No One Will Hear”, the simplicity of the vocal lines, classic arpeggios and well -calibrated solos will make listening very pleasant.
Ayreon, Star One, Plan Nine, Supersonic Revolution in recent years, The Gentle Storm, Stream of Passion previously, a rundown of collaborations (among the last ones, the one with Simone Simons for his first solo album): all these are the representation of the thousand musical ideas and personal tastes of Lucassen, who range from progressive to hard rock seventies, from Ballads to Blues.
To the delight of each listener then, he is always looking for new voices and over the years he has brought already established singers behind the microphone, such as among others Damian Wilson, Hansi Kürsch, Anneke Van Giersbergen and Russell Allen, but he also made new promises debut, as a Marcela Bovio right in the streams of passion.
And the Mexican talented is one of the absolute protagonists of this new “Songs No One Will Hear”, which speaks of the last five months of the Earth, due to an asteroid destined to hit it.
What feelings will humanity feel? What will people do? From what could have been a dark theme, Arjen to his usual one, instead, releases a kaleidoscope of sounds, from melancholy ones as in “We'll Never Know”, who speaks of a couple who will not see their daughter born (entrusted to the sublime voice of Floor Jansen of the Nightwish), to the most light -shaped/psychedelic ones of “Shaggathon” and “Dr. Slumber's Blue Bus “, where the people now resigned due to the impossibility of escaping from the impact, decides to celebrate the end right on the place where it will happen, as in a seventy -sectan hippie rite.
Finally, we find more mystical, introspective and continuous changes of rhythm in the long and final “Our Final Song”, the first single extract related by a video that is a mini-film, a true manifesto of the thought taken from this hypothetical situation narrated on the disc. We will not tell the end of the story, it is right to get there at the conclusion of the nine tracks that make up “Songs No One Will Hear”.
Who knows Lucassen and his very long discography, will not be able to make this further pearl his own, who has everything that distinguishes his path: progressive sound with moog and organ, freshness of melodies with intertwining between guitars and violins, crystalline voices and angelic choirs thanks to Irene Jansen and Marcela Bovio (always ready behind the microphone even in those rare live events), narrators. Mike Mills of the Toehider (in this case as a radio speaker who tells the moments following the news of the Asteroid and introduces the various songs) and involving duets between Robert Soeterboek (Plan Nine), Floor Jansen and Patty Gurdy who accompany the listener during the evolution of history.
For those who have never heard Arjen, this is an excellent start, both because it operates in themselves (in the various releases, moreover, the version with double CD sees the songs without Mike Mills and its radio launches on the second album) and disconnected from other chapters, both because it is the quintessence of the sound, the spirit and musicality of the Dutch artist.
Another great record that, in its simplicity, immediately enters the head.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
