SONG OF THE WILDLANDS

Review #111

Here's the thing; I love Rock Operas when they are well made and tasteful. And so far, most of Clive Nolan's Rock operas are simply wonderful! Yes, maybe sometimes they have their ups and downs, but the overall outcome is usually superb! (To me at least).

I was introduced into his Rock Operas with the release of Alchemy, which is still one of my most beloved albums of the last decades. Then, when I heard about King's Ransom, I was counting the days for my pre-order to arrive. King's Ransom toped my expectations, and made me want to listen to Alchemy again. So, I begun listening them both, one after the other.

The years passed and I was wondering which was going to be his next step. A third chapter in the Alchemy Universe, or he would try something totally different? The answer to this came a few months ago, when I learned about Song of the Wildlands. To be honest I had no idea what to expect this time, because the main theme was something totally different and it had to be kind of epic. But the information that they were "leaking" were very promising.

So, now that have the album, and I have listened to it over 10 times, I can say that it is once more excellent! It is kind of epic - Clive Nolan epic, not Manowar epic - and once more it includes a huge number of musicians and singers; not to mention the 200-people choir which is stunning!

Once more, I am not going to get into details for each song, because as I wrote in some of my previous reviews,, these kind of albums are like a musical journey. Each song offers something new and takes the story further.

The best way to find out more about Song of the Wildlands is to listen to it a few times and then form your own opinion. It is a great - highly enjoyable - Rock Opera, which I definitely recommend, assuming that you like these kind of albums of course. As for my rating, I think I will give 4.5 stars, but since I cannot give that number, I will give 5.0 (Because although it's not exactly Progressive Rock, it's a really, really wonderful album). Give it a try folks! You won't regret it...

Autumn 1982. The young Clive Nolan (he was then 21) attended a Marillion concert in London. Impressed by the epic song 'Grendel, he declares: "One day, these guys are going to work with me", and he was partly right - Arena was created 13 years later with the drummer of the time, Mick Pointer. Grendel inspired him to write the track Loki, as soon as he returned from the gig. In spring 2021, the same Clive Nolan, after many projects, published Song Of The Wildlands, an adaptation of a major epic poem of the Anglo-Saxon literature (VIIth century), which puts in scene a warrior become king after having overcome a formidable monster: Grendel. The circle is closed.

Most of the 15 tracks contain bombastic atmospheres featuring majestic orchestral keyboards, a 200-voice choir singing in Anglo-Saxon (old English) and propulsive drums, blended with narration (Ross Andrews), several pleasant female vocals (including Christina Booth from Magenta) and the voice of Beowolf (Ryan Morgan). To me it sounds like a bridge between a solo album by Rick Wakeman and the soundtrack of fantasy movies like Lord Of The Rings. Some compositions sound more mellow, often with strong folky hints, due to the distinctive instrumentation, like harp and flute. Clive Nolan has succeeded to create Medieval-like moods that matches with the story, but during this album the atmospheres tend to sound too similar, my attentions slips away at some moments. It's a pity that Clive Nolan has not created more variety, for instance by writing parts with classical guitar, lute, or a typical sounding vintage keyboard like the harpsichord. Or simply by adding more soli on the electric guitar and synthesizer.

I wish Clive Nolan had been a bit more the 'Rick Wakeman Of The Neo Progressive Rock Movement' on this album, a bit more extravaganza or self-indulgence would have contributed to more variety and excitement, now it all sounds a bit too similar.

My rating: 2,5 star.

There are very few musicians in the progressive scene who have such a diverse output as Clive Nolan. While many think of him only as the keyboard player in Pendragon or Arena, he has also been involved in multiple others bands and projects, and back in the Nineties he appeared to have his hand in most of what was going on in the UK in one way or another. When he came out with 'Alchemy' in 2013 it was quite a shock to many that he was now so heavily involved in a theatrical production, but in truth this was a direct follow-on to his works with Caamora and his earlier collaborations with Oliver Wakeman.

Here he now pursues a style which was made famous by Oliver's father with 'Journey To The Centre of the Earth' as we have a story with narration (take a bow Ross Andrews as your contribution is immense), with different singers taking on different parts but none of them have a speaking part. This removes it from his own earlier works, and there is also more overt orchestration, with some wonderful choral sections, yet there is still rock at its heart with Scott Higham keeping it going at all times. Interestingly, some of the music is very traditional and folky, and the result is something which is probably one of the most diverse of his releases to date. Certainly it is one of the most compelling, in that he has somehow brought together a huge variety of styles which all blend and work effectively, while compressing the elegy into a summarised version of the story that is fascinating for the listener.

It would not be possible to tell the full story in a single album, but here we have the highlights of Beowulf, how he saves the king from Grendel and then Grendel's mother, before dying himself many years later as he saved his own kingdom from the dragon. I played this after listening to his album with Oliver, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', for the first time in some years while also re-acquainting myself with 'Alchemy', and although there are hints of both of those in this one, in reality this is more complex, broad and deep. The performances from everyone is one wonderful, while Clive himself takes care of the orchestration and keyboards, and when playing this on headphones I fell into the world of Beowulf and did not want to leave.

Recorded during lockdown, Clive describes this as a secular oratorio, which is a great way to think of it, as when the choirs lift then it certainly is an apt description. This has been made available as a 2-LP vinyl as a Limited Blood Red and regular black edition (both with a booklet) and a CD Earbook, a vinyl-size hardback book containing four discs: the album, a special instrumental version of the album, and a documentary on DVD and Blu-ray formats. The vinyl comes as a Limited Blood Red and regular black edition, both with a booklet.

It certainly deserves all the care and attention given to it in terms of release, as the music contained within the package is very special indeed.