Way back when in the 1970s when I was a young rapscallion discovering “proper” music, the sprawling prog rock “concept” album was king.
One had to look cool wandering in to the sixth form common room. No way better to do that then with a copy of Tales from Topographic Oceans tucked under your arm. Or perhaps Journey to the Centre of the Earth as “Uncle” Rick Wakeman was the undisputed all-weight world champion of the concept album. King Arthur on ice anyone?
Spring forwards four decades. I declare Gandalf’s Fist have dethroned Uncle Rick. The Clockwork Fable being a jaw-dropping, mind boggling stupendous and outrageously imaginative offering. A triple album of remarkable inventiveness and overall quality. Over three hours long though every minute holds the attention, nay demands it.
Set in a subterranean world, the story unfolds over the three CDs and told very skilfully through both words and music as the inhabitants seek to return to the surface – or do they? The populace of Cogtopolis have their world regulated by the giant cog. It’s slowing – but why? Rumours of the surface being habitable again – but rumour or fact. Can they open the “aperture” again or not?
So richly do the spoken word passages describe Cogtopolis I find my mind’s eye picturing it differently each time I listen. The narration and characterisation bring it all to life extremely well telling the story alongside the music.
And the music is quite something else. A jamboree of pure prog, crashing heavy metal, full on power-riffage, freak-outery solos, swirling keys and pastoral folk. All on a vast scale switching styles effortlessly along the way. A sort of an evolving hybrid of Jethro Tull, Iron Maiden, Steeleye Span, Rick Wakeman, Yes and anything else you can think of. All very skilfully played and sung.
The narrated/spoken word acted parts are similarly skilful. And enthusiastic. Not a little darkly humorous either. The spoken parts would make a fine stand-alone audio book. The way they merge so well with the songs adds to the listening pleasure. Do not be tempted to skip over them.
Progmeister General Arjen Lucassen puts in an appearance as does Wolfsbane/Iron Maiden man Blaze Bayley so we have a NWOBHM connection too.
Quite simply phenomenal from start to finish. Check out Shadowborn (video below) as an example of how dammed good The Clockwork Fable is. One of the most enjoyable eight minutes or so of your life you’ll be glad you don’t get back.
Plenty more like that over the three hours on offer here. A full listening experience. Part audio book, part progtastic musical adventure which both harks back to the concept album roots of the 1970s and sets the modern standard.
Lavish in scale, imagination, execution and delivery. I cannot think of enough adjectives to do it full justice. With the Clockwork fable, Gandalf’s Fist have set the prog/rock concept album bar to heights which may never be equalled.
>> THE CLOCKWORK FABLE ON AMAZON CD | DOWNLOAD VERSION <<
I strongly suggest you check out their other albums too. It can be hard to find though their web site usually has stuff for sale. Their previous album – A Forest of Fey is another musical adventure – and if you can get it, A Day in the Life of a Universal Wander is epic progressive metal.
Go to: http://gandalfsfist.com to learn more about the band and the world of Cogtopolis.
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