MERLIN - BARD OF THE UNSEEN

This "Merlin, Bard Of The Unseen" revisited is a full length concept album which takes its inspiration from their previous "Merlin" which was released in 81. At the time, only one side of the album was related to the Merlin story which we all know quite well.

As some reviewers have said, this version sounds much more as a musical than the original work. The addition of some orchestrations only adds to the flavour. I have a mixed feeling about this release: while the original was generally considered as being too short, this one might well be somewhat longish and sometimes pompous ("The Sword In The Stone" for example) or too much West End's musical oriented ("When The Seer Looks Away" or "Branded").

If you're in for orchestrations, this might be an interesting work, but I am not really such a freak (there are still very few exceptions to this appreciation like the great "El Dorado" from ELO).

My two favourite songs are "The Otherworld" which contains some fine instrumental parts and beautiful vocals (a trade mark with this band) and the moving "Niniane" which was already my fave from the original work. It is very much a "Camel" like type of song as far as the instrumental parts are concerned. Vocals are of course much better here.

A song as "Friendship & Love" is also a fine achievement full of subtlety (piano, guitar). Extremely melodic and in all perfectly crafted.

The band called this work a "rock opera". I would tend to call this more a "musical" instead, leaving the term "rock opera" to "Tommy" and the likes. Anyway, one spends an enjoyable time while listening to this CD. Three stars.