THE HUMAN EQUATION

I'll comment and analyze only and solely the lyrics of this work. I advise that there will be lots of spoilers about it. Ayreon is one of the projects of Arjen Lucansen, and he is clearly and inexorably using it to tell one story per album. Something very interesting about these works is that each character is interpretated by one vocalist. On this album, for instance, there are 14 of them. One briliant feature on this story is showing human being as a divided entity/organism. 8 characters are feelings/sentiments that don't form a cohesive totality. On many occasions, the story narrates the clash and tense dialogue between the feelings of a person in a condition very close to death. This transmits an extremely disturbing mood on this man's situation. The reports from his wife, his friend, and some of his own memories, describes him as someone who always owned himself, his life and his ways. So this is completely new to a usually confident and structured personality.

"You've always had complete control, Never thinking twice. You always called the shots, a heart as cold as ice".

When the man recovers part of his conscious, he is completely unaware of everything around him, and doesn't remember what happened. The first sentiment to appear is Fear, telling him "You're alone, no one here is dancing to your tune". Fortunately, his Reason is confident. But Passion is tuned much more to Fear and Agony.

His best friend is there by his side. [Best Friend] "No, I can't seem to accept these strange conditions. No matter what they say, it doesn't feel right". And so is his wife. "[Best Friend] Do you think he'll die? [Wife] I don't think he will".

But the man is alone with his thoughts and feelings, he doesn't here them, and don't even know they exist. Is it possible to face such extreme situation without external psychological support? How to deal with these questioning and pressing internal voice(s)?.

[Agony] "Surrender now, You can't beat death at his ruthless game. Make your bow Hang your head in shame. I am pain. I am real. I'm not a dream. I'm the chain around your neck as you scream".

"[Me] I can't believe this is the end. [Agony] It's written in stone. [Me] Where are my friends? [Agony] You have always been alone!"

The sentiment of Love is very strong. [Love] "You'll find me here whenever they oppose you. I am the strongest of them all No need to fear these feelings that enclose you. I'm here to catch you when you fall [...] You're not alone, I am here dancing to your tune".

How many of us has this confident and robust love to sustain hope on extreme moments? The love for yourself; the love to live.

It's about time I explain that each track is one day of this chronicle; or some events of each day. On fifth day he starts to listen to the voices around, but don't recognize them. However, what they say doesn't make any sense.

On the following days, you, the listener/reader, gets to know more about his story and the story of some of his feelings. Rage is born very early on his life, because of his Dad's pathological competition: making it clear he was better than him, and making him feel embarassed when exposing weakness. School has taught him some knowledge, and also developed his pride to be determined and spiteful. Because other boys mocked and beat him. On these moments Reason wasn't able to make him ponder the contexto and the use of violence.

"[Pride] See that kid, wipe the smile off his face. [Reason] He's just like you, feeling out of place. [Pride] I don't care, let's show him who's boss. [Reason] That's not the way to get your message across".

On the 10th day of this struggle, even though he demonstrates no reaction or change in this clinical status, his best friend and wife keep talking to that inert body. They don't know if something's going on inside him. Medicine, therefore Science, cannot explain why there is no worsening nor improvement. Both remember moments of love, hapiness and overcoming.

Best friend and Pride: Do you recall that day Fearlessly we climbed the highest tower

Wife and Love: Then you became afraid To scared to climb down you stayed up there for hours!

Passion recognizes something here: "Can you see her light, shining through the black. She's reaching out to you; what's holding you back".

Reason also finds an opportunity and direction now: "Can you feel her warmth glowing on your skin?! Don't repress the memories, let them all in..."

When we think or talk about illness or death, it's almost aumtomatic that the first reaction of our imagination is to picture the body in a war against some disease, and/or the aging of the organismo. But the lyrics on this album, at this point, can lead you to another perception about this process. Perhaps there is also, or maybe exclusively, a psychological conflict; after all, "there is nothing physically wrong", according to the doctor. From the "dark crypts of his soul" the foundations of some of his feelings resurface. Emerging from her mother's isolation after her husband's departure, Agony develops roots: "She went through a life of deprivation. She depends on you, her only son."

After her passing, the ghost of this maternal image and tale remains in the shadows of Fear: with her voice crying out "Where were you, son, when I needed you? Is this your thanks for all the warmth I gave you despite my suffering?"

By this moment in my analysis, it seems coherent to say that the story is not continuous, much less linear. Nor is it completely clear at what time, or from what period, the events are being exposed. I appreciate this approach and method. First, because of the challenge it represents, and second, because it forces the reader/listener to pay attention and think about possible connections and meanings to put the pieces of the puzzle together. There is also another possible advantage to this approach: it can leave some questions, statements and narrative lines open. Well, in the last tracks the lyrics fulfill the function of tying up some loose ends. It was the choice of whoever composed the lyrics - I didn't particularly like it.

On the 17th day the track is called "Accident". It's when the wife reveals, after a period of denial in the face of the "hero's" questionings, that there was an exchange of affection with his best friend. And he, in turn, who was jobless and alone, also gave himself to her. The lyrics in these tracks converge to defend, even in the face of this situation, this tension, an optimistic vision of love. Because after a series of outbursts from everyone, the hero returns to life, willing to love his wife. Happy end.

This is truly a fabulous, full-bodied, intense and profound story about the ways to consider the complexity of human being's and relationships. Top-notch. 4.5 of 5 stars.