LAY OF LEITHIAN

Myths, legends, fairytales and SF are often inspiration for musicians in progressive rock. One of the most popular subjects is the work of famous author J.H.R. Tolkien. This double CD by Italian formation Ainur is another example in an endless row. On Lay Of Leithan the band has decided to do it on a large scale: 3 storytellers, 12 different vocalists, a symphonic orchestra and many musicians on a varied instrumentation, this reminds me of the megalomaniac approach by Rick Wakeman, only not on ice!

The music on the 25 tracks is a dynamic blend of classical and rock in which the climates change frequently:

classical orchestrations in the titletrack, twanging acoustic guitar, violin, harp and a sensitive electric guitar solo in Coming To Doriath,

slide guitar and bombastic Hammond organ in Daeron's Betrayal,

a mid-tempo with solos on violin, piano, acoustic guitar and organ in Hirilorn,

propulsive guitar riffs, fat Minimoog synthesizer flights, powerful vocals and a fiery guiar solo in Towards Nargothrond,

from mellow with acoustic guitar and violin to an exciting accellaration with heavy guitar riffs, fat Minimoog runs, brass and high pitches female vocals in The Hound Of Valinor,

sensational Hammond and Minimoog with propulsive guitar riffs in Carcharoth,

an exciting blend of classical and rock with violins and flashy Minimoog flights in Hell's Awakening

and from tender Grand piano and dreamy vocals to fat guitar riffs, strong flute play and a dynamic rhythm-section.

The epic final composition (almost 20 minutes) starts promising with lots of vocalists, wonderful Grand piano and moving electric guitar. But after 9 minutes there's complete silence until the final half minute, then we hear narration and it's over, a bit disappointing musical idea to let the proghead listen to such a long silence!

Although at some moments my attention slips a bit away (due to the fact that some climates tend to sound a bit too similar), I enjoyed this 2-CD. Because of the tension between the mellow parts with classical instruments, and the heavy and bombastic parts and the exciting work on guitar and vintage keyboards (like the Hammond organ and Minimoog synthesizer).

My rating: 3,5 star.