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Ayreon - Ayreonauts Only

Artist:	Ayreon
Title:	Ayreonauts Only
Label:	Transmission Records TM-027
Length(s):	62 minutes
Year(s) of release:	2000
Month of review:	[02/2001]

Line up

Arjen Anthony Lucassen - all instruments, except (on one or more tracks)
Ed Warby - drums on 1, 2 and 3
Erik Norlander - keyboards 1 and 2
Clive Nolan - keyboards on 1
Gary(eon) Wehrkamp - guitar, synth on 3
Roland Bakker - hammond on 6
Robby Valentine - piano on 6
Stephen van Haestregt - drums on 7 and 11
Ernst van Ee - drums on 9
Peter Vink - bass on 9
Cleem Determeijer - hammond and minimoog on 9
Jolanda Verduijn - bass on 11
Vocals performed by Damian Wilson on 1, Lana Lane on 1, Rob Soeterbroek on 2,
Astrid van der Veen on 5 and 11, Mouse on 6, Anneke van Giersbergen on 6,
Edward Reekers on 6,
Arjen Lucassen on 8, 10, Gary Hughes on 7, Leon Goewie on 9.
Backing vocals by Bruce Dickinson on 1, Lana Lane on 3, Fabio Lione on 3,
Rob Soeterbroek on 7,
Okkie Huysdens on 7, Mirjam van Doorn on 9, Debbie Schreuder on 9,
Rene Merkelbach on 9,
Hope I got it all.

Tracks

1)	Into The Black Hole	10.46
2)	Out Of The White Hole	7.12
4)	Carpe Diem (chaos)	4.15
5)	Temple Of The Cat	3.07
7)	Beyond The Last Horizon	5.34
9)	Eyes Of Time	5.10
10)	Nature's Dance	2.33
11)	Ambeon: Cold Metal	7.10

Summary

During the making of Ayreon/Lucassen's five albums a number of songs had differing demo versions, or were sung by different vocalists and so on. These songs have now found a place on this midprice limited edition. Going back through the history as Ayreon usually does we start with the songs of the chronologically last album, Flight Of The Migrator back until the debut Ayreon: The Final Experiment by Lucassen, to back to the future on the final track Cold Metal which is a track from the upcoming new project: Ambeon.

The music

Into The Black Hole was terrifically sung by Bruce Dickinson on the Flight Of The Migrator, but here you can find it sung both by Damian Wilson and Lana Lane, the song is a mix of both. This powerfully bombastic track, with its spooky swirling voices, still works no matter who is singing. The drama in Damian's voice is also present on this track, with its plodding rhythmic interlude, where Norlander has his way on the keyboards. During the second heavy interlude it is Clive Nolan with his fingerquick, more melodic soloing. Vocally, I think I do prefer the Dickinson version, which is strange, because I like Damian as a singer much more than Dickinson.

Out Of The White Hole now has the vocals of Robert Soeterbroek. The vocals of Soeterbroek sound like typical hard rock vocals. The bombastic and melodic choruses on this track contrast strongly with Norlanders meandering spacey keyboards. Of course, the music on these tracks is quite the same as the version as those on the original records. The rhythm section is driving on the second part of the track, Planet Y, where we meet the creature Forever. Optimistic melodies continue the track in the third part, which is an uplifting piece, in which Norlander again plays an estranging role with his keyboards.

Through The Wormhole is an up-tempo piece with Ian Parry doing the lead instead of Fabio Lione. The whispered vocals in this staccato track later turn to more typical hard rock vocals. In a way this is very poppy track, but the driving rhythm makes it a very distinctive one.

The final track from the Flight Of The Migrator is Carpe Diem, which later became known under the name Chaos. The track was meant to be one for a band called Planet 9, but since that never materialized, Arjen used it for the metal record. The up-tempo, classically inspired instrumental, sounds a bit flatter than we are used to, but this is not surprising, because it is a home demo. The quality is good enough for me, the music I do not care for very much. The energy is there, but it lacks distinction.

Astrid van der Veer who will also sing on the Ambeon project does a willowy sounding Temple Of The Cat. Her voice is more flexible it seems, and the song has a moodier sheen lying over it now. The song is acoustic and therefore the vocals are more highlighted. A light footed alternative to the album version.

Based on three tracks from Into The Electric Castle, on Hippie's Amazing Trip we hear Mouse (also present on The Dream Sequencer) sing the part of the hippy. It took Arjen himself to point out the likeness of Mouse's voice to that of John Lennon, and I wonder now how I could have missed it. It is not just Mouse here, because Anneke van Giersbergen sings in her clear way as well in the chorus. The third part I like most, where Mouse sings with Reekers and the piano of Robby Valentine has control. Fish is not listed among the singers on this track, but he can sure be heard.

Beyond The Last Horizon takes us back a bit further to the not so successful Actual Fantasy. With quite a few Beatles influences, the music becomes typically Ayreon with accessible, singalong choruses, but also some heavy guitar work.

We are already back to The Final Experiment, which started it all. The Charm Of The Seer is present as a home demo with Arjen doing everything. The song sounds like chamber music, with lots of strings and harpsichords. The vocals of Arjen has some aspects of Peter Hammill on this track. Later on the music becomes more up-beat and waltz like. I like it less than.

Eyes Of Time is sung by Leon Goewie. Like the next track Nature's Dance is could be found on the Sail Away To Avalon single. Goewie has a rather harsh voice and sings in a bit rather tiring way. I agree with Arjen that this would have been too much too soon on the Final Experiment. The keyboard solos and pounding drums on this track are particularly nice. Nature's Dance is a home demo without the warping of Arjen's vocals.

The final track is a taster for the new project called Ambeon, which combines Ayreon with Ambient. Dark, brooding the music is made from parts of Ayreon, adding new things along the way. Some people are sure to have a nice time finding out what comes from where for the songs on that album. The vocals of Astrid van der Veer, influenced as they are by Tori Amos and Kate Bush, are still very distinctive, but also a bit unrestful in the choruses. The song features a few familiar keyboard lines, and has a free form intermezzo in the middle. It at least makes me curious as to the full album. I do feel it is a good thing for him to take on something new.

Conclusion

For the fan, a disc that he can not afford to miss, for the uninitiated, there are two ways open: use this album as an indication of the totality of the music of Ayreon (as such it is quite alright), or in case you are after something more than a compilation, simply go out and buy the final two discs, The Dream Sequencer and The Flight Of The Migrator. My guess is that soon you will want to find all others discs as well and you'll arrive back at this nice disc of left-overs. I hope for you, that they still have some left by then.