Tales by Gaslight is a superb triple CD box set by progressive rock keyboard greats Clive Nolan and Oliver (son of Rick) Wakeman.
Comprises of their albums Jabberwocky and The Hound of the Baskervilles which came out around the turn of the century and also Dark Fables – which is a mixture of some out-takes from those albums and some pieces Clive and Oliver were working on for a proposed album based on the Frankenstein story.
Jabberwocky a concept piece based on the classic Lewis Carroll poem and Hound of the Baskervilles around the Sherlock Holmes novel by Arthur Conan Doyle.
As you’d expect given the combined talents of Clive and Oliver this is all top notch keyboard/synth driven progressive rock of the highest order. And excellent core band too including Bob Catley, the excellent fluid guitar of Peter Banks and the precise, crisp drumming of Tony Fernandez. Rick Wakeman himself serves as the narrator on Jabberwocky.
Both Jabberwocky and Hound of the Baskervilles convey the concepts very well. Jabberwocky being quite a fun listen. Generally light-hearted as it spins the yarn with Clive and Oliver leading the way on those fabulous keys galore. It’s sumptuous, spectacular stuff all the way through.
As is Hound of the Baskervilles. A dark, spooky, atmospheric, brooding affair which is a harder punch to it overall than Jabberwocky – though no surprise given the subject matter. More rock than prog going on – particularly the guitar with the always excellent Arjen Lucassen popping up and actor Robert Powell who played Sherlock Holmes a time or two which adds to the authenticity.
Dark Fables has a little of an unfinished feel to it – understandable given it’s out-takes and incomplete works – though is an enjoyable listen all the same.
As a taster, here’s Coming to Town off Jabberwocky:
Over all the albums you have Clive and Oliver at the top of their games doing what they do best. Keyboards and synths up to eleven and beyond serving up progressive rock of the highest order with a band of other musicians to match.
It’s great packaging too. You don’t get this with a stream or a download – a solid clamshell box, an art card of each album cover, CDs in replica cardboard sleeves and also the booklets showing off the sumptuous artwork.
Can’t go wrong with Tales by Gaslight.
Picked mine up from Burning Shed.
https://burniningshed.com
You could do worse than to check it out.