Artist: Nolan, Clive & Wakeman, Oliver
Label: Verglas Records
Release: 2002
Rating: 3/5
Right off the bat I have to say this is a concept album built on yet another successfully cracked case of the ever-fearless and infallible Sherlock Holmes (yeah, I’m already feeling inadequate). This time he’s wrestling with the Baskerville hound, which, on those nights when thick fog blankets the moors and the woods of Baskerville, has a real appetite for chewing on any two-legged creature who turns up at the wrong place at the wrong time, unlike little Smuk the dwarf.
The two masterminds roped in a whole bunch of musicians and, most importantly, gave every one of them a part to play, and they all nailed it. The project features well-known names like the “flying (and hyperactive) Dutchman” Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Karl Groom (Threshold), Peter Banks (ex-Yes), Bob Catley (Magnum), Jon Jowitt (IQ), and others…
The keyboards call the shots on this record. The album has that signature production of British bands cut from the same cloth as Arena, IQ, Pallas, Pendragon or Marillion. Every instrument is expressive and perfectly balanced against the others. Fans of distorted guitars will have to wait until the chorus of the second song. Heavy guitar riffs are used sparingly, but where they do show up, they’re smartly woven into the songs, especially when the mood needs a lift. Where the drama thickens, that’s where they strike. Take “The Curse Of Baskervilles”, then “Shadows Of Fate”, where riffs broken down into chords settle the song into an utterly melancholic chorus, and “Seldon”, whose wild streak in the middle gets tamed by a tastefully played solo from Arjen Lucassen. The story wraps up with “Chasing The Hound”, which opens and closes with wild drumming, like you’re witnessing some African tribal ritual.
“Three Broken Threats” and “The Argument” are the songs where Clive and Oliver didn’t forget to bring in the violin, played by Jo Greenland. The first, an instrumental, is full of constant rhythm changes and masterful melodies, while the second boasts a majestic interweaving of three vocals and layered harmonies that flow into the end of the song, something we also get in “Waiting”. Emotions are erupting from every corner, and the story really comes alive this way. “Run For Your Life”, “Picture Of A Lady” with flute (Eva Albering) and “By Your Side” calm the scene down. “At Home In Mire” reminds me of Marillion with its opening guitar riff. Paul Allison’s mysterious, sinister vocals give this song a very special stamp.
The whole story is tied together between the songs by Robert Powell (as Dr. John Watson) with narration in proper “law and order” English. At first I was really skeptical about an idea like that, since it’s pretty tacky when someone tells you what’s going on and lets you off the hook from ever having to bother picking up a book. Don’t be scared off by it the way I initially was. The idea turned out to be very welcome, and it really shines in the partly psychedelic instrumental “Death On The Moor”.
So this project isn’t some brand-new revolution in the world of music. But it does prove that the two authors managed to pull off what most concept albums of this kind usually fail at. They brought the story of the Baskerville hound to life. In their own way, and therefore an original one.
Lineup
Bob Catley – vocals
Ashley Holt – vocals
Tracy Hitchings – vocals
Paul Allison – vocals
Michele Young – vocals, backing vocals
Ian “Moon” Gould – vocals
Paul Wrightson – backing vocals
Robert Powell – narration
Oliver Wakeman – keyboards, backing vocals
Clive Nolan – keyboards, backing vocals
Karl Groom – guitar
Arjen Lucassen – guitar
Peter Banks – guitar
Eva Albering – flute
Jo Greenland – violin
John Jowitt – bass guitar
Peter Gee – bass guitar
Tony Fernandez – drums
Production
Karl Groom, Clive Nolan & Oliver Wakeman
Track list
1. Overture (5:57)
2. The Curse Of The Baskervilles (6:14)
3. Three Broken Threads (4:37)
4. Shadows of Fate (7:01)
5. A Home in The Mire (4:52)
6. Run for your Life (4:52)
7. Picture of a Lady (3:41)
8. The Argument (4:48)
9. Second Light (2:00)
10. Seldon (4:57)
11. Death on the Moor (6:13)
12. By Your Side (3:32)
13. Waiting (5:29)
14. Chasing the Hound (4:34)
Running time: 68:47
