TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION

This being a milsetone in prog rock, it really does live up to it's standars.

Amazing experimental styles of songwrting (for band and orchestra), great vocalists, and amazing instrumentation work.

The songs of the album are based on nut case Edgar Allen Poe's most famous works, and I do think that his stuff is very obscure, but prog rock is the perfect genre to describe his werid and wonderfull tales.

1. A Dream Within A Dream - Very Pink Floyd esque instrumental with some folky timbres. Pretty cool. 8/10

2. The Raven - Kick ass song with some beautiful instrumentation. I love the vocorder.Alan's vocals are actuualyl pretty good in this song. 9/10

3. The Tell-Tale Heart - My favourite song on the album, mainly cause it has Arthur Brown in it, and I love his voice. Just an amazing piece of music. The middle section is quite beautfiul. Love the lyrics. 10/10

4. The Cask Of Amontillado - The vocals in this song sound like a duet between Peter Gabriel and Paul McCartney (that would be an amazing duo).Great solemn atmosphere. The orchestration is amazing. 9/10

5. (The System Of) Dr. Tarr & Professor Fether - Love the deep vocals in the chorus. Quite cathcy for such an ecclectic piece. Just in short a kick ass song. Love the vocals. 9/10

6. The Fall Of The House Of Usher - It does seem quite out of place, a big orchestral suite in the middle of a prog album, but it does work suprisingly well. It has some great themes and some very weird noisy parts. A successful bash at modern orchestral music. 8/10

7. To One In Paradise - Very Dream Theater intro. Love all the many vocals and the counterpoint sections. Some very beautifull melodies and cadences. Now don't hit me, but it does remind me of ABBA. 10/10

CONCLUSION: If you don't have this album, then shame on you. Buy it now. The Deluxe Edition (the copy I have), is packed full of extras.

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