Edward’s first solo album in many a year is a massively dramatic and sweeping epic of epic scale. A good old fashioned concept album based around a second “big bang” and how that might have worked out…..or not….in an alternative or parallel universe. And it is quite the listening experience indeed.
Edward has clearly put everything in to the writing and production. That comes through when listening. Such is the scale of what he’s composed he has been able to cover just about every musical genre you’d care to mention though overall it is mainly heavy, progressive and bombastic.
If Edward Reekers might be an unfamiliar name to you – he’s been around for years. Arguably more recently known for his long association with fellow Dutchman Arjen Lucassen and guesting on many of Arjen’s Ayreon projects.
Indeed – Arjen pops up here on the Liberty Project as do Damien Wilson and Jaycee Cuijpers putting in excellent vocals and Steve Hackett no less.
If you like Arjen/Ayreon stuff then The Liberty Project will be properly your bag for sure. The comparison is obvious – though that is most definitely not to say that it’s an Ayreon clone. Not at all. The sheer scope, scale and ambition Edwards has brought to his album bears his own stamp and identity for a quite stunning album. One which is accessible yet complex and rewards more with each listen.
A proggy bombastic instrumental storms out of the traps for that second big bang leading in to The Present Day which is another big affair full of power and soaring synths. There’s so much going on over the whole album I could ramble on for pages about it and still miss stuff out. Instead – a few “edited highlights”.
Damien Wilson’s vocal on Good Citizens is marvellous. Big admirer of Damien for years. Powerful and emotional as always. An effortlessly smooth vocal range.
The Disease is a monster. Lucassen provides the guitars and a scorching solo. Jaycee bangs out the vocal with so much effort he may need a lung transplant and the “kill kill kill” chant amps up the drama. Have a listen:
Another big dramatic piece is Money. Big riffs, big everything and breaking in to a sort of power-prog rap with some spoken vocal elements a bit like Rush on Roll the Bones. The lyrics are great too. A little tongue in cheek perhaps.
Some of the later songs towards the end of the album are more towards a gentler style with piano and symphonic elements though all work well in the context of the concept and album as a whole. For example Onwards and Forwards and Never Again before Into the Future shuts down a remarkable eighty minutes with an instrumental similar to Out of the Past.
The Liberty Project is a masterpiece of an album. Make no mistake.