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OPPOSITION

Persephone's Dream

Heavy Prog


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Persephone's Dream Opposition album cover
3.89 | 8 ratings | 2 reviews | 0% 5 stars

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Studio Album, released in 2001

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Bevel (4:17)
2. Kindred Soil (3:36)
3. Puppetmaster (4:17)
4. Endymion (5:06)
5. Hyperspace Minefield (6:00)
6. Dreamcatcher (6:58)
7. TV Talk Show (4:18)
8. 10th Moon (7:27)
9. Agent of Chaos (7:10)
10. Far Side of Eden (5:20)
11. Stormchaser (7:30)
12. Serene Sea (7:02)

Total Time 69:01

Line-up / Musicians

- Karin Nicely / vocals
- Rowen Poole / guitar, mixing
- Kim Finney / keyboards
- Chris Siegle / bass
- Ed Wiancko / drums
- John Tallent / percussion

With:
- Jonathan Fleischman / backing vocals (1)


Note: The actual instrumentation could not be fully confirmed at this moment

Releases information

CD Persephone's Dream ‎- PD91694-3 (2001, US)

Thanks to rushfan4 for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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PERSEPHONE'S DREAM Opposition ratings distribution


3.89
(8 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(0%)
0%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(50%)
50%
Good, but non-essential (38%)
38%
Collectors/fans only (12%)
12%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

PERSEPHONE'S DREAM Opposition reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
4 stars 'Opposition' came out in 2001 and the band had grown to a musical six-piece with the inclusion of Kim Finney on keyboards and John Tallent on percussion. It is interesting in the booklet to see that Jonathan Fleischman (lighting and stage show design) and Audre (artwork and web design) are all credited as band members. I must mention the booklet design, as it is one of the finest you will see, with great artwork accompanying each set of lyrics. The booklet has also been printed on a different quality paper to normal so that it is not glossy which gives it a tactile sensation reminiscent of old album covers.

Musically the band has decided to move into a darker and heavier sphere, with Karin's distinctive vocals rising over the top. While some songs tend to fit a bit more neatly into the neo- prog mould (although not completely by any stretch of the imagination), there are plenty of other influences such as Ozric Tentacles that clearly come through. Of the two I felt that in many ways this was the more complete album, one that makes more sense when listened to in it's entirety, but in some ways some of the sheer experimentalism and therefore 'difference' of the previous album are missing.

Originally appeared in Feedback #70, Oct 02

Review by AtomicCrimsonRush
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Persephone's Dream 2001 album is "Opposition" sounding very different to the next three albums to follow which are all masterpieces of Heavy Symphonic Prog to my ears. This release has the endearing vocals of Karin Nicely, a confident performer who is easy on the ears. Bevel opens the album with a heavy guitar riff and and some nice sound effects of water lapping. It is a rocker with some catchy melodies.

Kindred Soil is a quieter approach with beautiful guitar reverb from Rowen Poole, and a steady tempo from percussionist Ed Wiancko and John Tallent, who appears on other albums. There is a spoken section which is rather interesting. The bassist is Chris Siegle, wonderful on these albums, appearing often, and keyboardist is Kim Finney.

Puppetmaster is next, driven by a heavy riff, and Karin's forceful vocals sounding similar to Toyah, who I adore. Listen to Marionette, The Packt or anything from "Anthem" and it is a similar style. A cool lead break and marching snare take over til the verse returns "where are you going? Ruled by your ego."

Endymion caresses your ears as it zooms in and out of your drums with synth pulses. Then lovely singing and guitar delay add to a haunting atmosphere. I love that bass against the soundscape of synths and dreamy guitar as Karin sings "Endymion, Can you give her the keys to her slumber, Endymion the silent sleeper, forever lost in the night." The spaciness and ambiance is powerful on this track. Karin is outstanding with a passionate performance I am beginning to enjoy more and more as the album progresses. Her outro of operatic intonations is towering.

Hyperspace Minefield, an Ayreon like title, opens with pounding drums and bass, joined by Karin and the guitars ringing out. Rowen's guitar work is excellent with chord progressions that complement the musicscape.

Other notable tracks include 10th Moon, with Pink Floyd style intro, moving into a steady rock beat with soft guitars, and spacey synths. The vocals are gentle and augmented by inventive musicianship with some fantastic percussion. The cadence gets heavier and progressive towards the end.

Agent of Chaos has a sparkly synth chime intro like a music box and then synths similar to Jean Michel Jarre pulsating. The bass is low and ominous as more prominent synths and guitars caress the atmosphere. Karin enters with intense vocals about the havoc surrounding a protagonist, "confusion sets in on unknowing mind, he laughs to himself".

There is also the mystical Far Side of Eden, opening with floating flute sounds and very pretty guitars, and the innovative Stormchaser, with its Deep Purple like title. This track stands out with its wind effects and guitar delay intro. It builds into distortion and Karin crying out to the heavens, "Can't you see I don't want to be lost and alone in the violence, I want to sail into the wind". An ambient atmosphere follows with synth pads and multi tracked harmonies. Thunder rolls across the sky and the music becomes heavier, lifting into a choppy rhythm and then descending into synths drones and the storm clouds open in the end.

We segue into Serene Sea to close the album, a steady rhythm motorvating along as Karin sings sweetly about the power of nature.

This album is not as masterful as the next three albums but it is still an excellent journey into the world of Persephone's Dream. There are some wonderful tracks and Karin is a fabulous vocalist. "Opposition" is yet another reason that Persephone's Dream are a worthy band to check out at your earliest opportunity.

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