A L B U M S

THE READING ROOM (2000)

LBD 040007 (LaBraD'or Records)

Dutch concept compilation album containing the exclusive 9½ minute Galahad track The Pleasure House.

The Reading Room is the outcome of a multinational project initiated by Dutchman Marc Brassé. As well as being a musician in his own right, Marc runs a record label, LaBraD'or Records, through which this album is released. It was he who devised its core 'concept'— the story of The Keeper, who looks after the books in the eponymous Reading Room, who one day finds he's able to transport himself into the worlds represented by paintings hanging on the walls of the room, and is forever changed as a result.

Marc contributes one track to the album (and the lyrics for another), but the rest come from other acts (including a couple of label-mates) — from Holland, England, Italy, Sweden and Australia — who were invited by Marc to produce original and exclusive songs for the compilation, each forming one part of the story of The Keeper's adventures. Brassé narrates at certain points throughout the album, introducing and providing a context for the individual tracks.

TRR opens impressively with the scene-setting The Reading Room by Brassé himself (with friends), featuring some dramatic keyboard effects. Up next are Swedish outfit Galleon, who provide a solid, heavier song in The Private Space, which has some big big lead guitar work. Silent Land, by Italians Night Watch, is an intense, asychronous piece, whose influences are self-evident. Vocals are Gabrielesque, and the instrumental passages wouldn't be out of place on Close to the Edge. Ironically, it ends up sounding like a Citizen Cain track, but it's compelling stuff nevertheless. It's followed by Aragon, from Australia, with their rather more straight-forward fare of The Last Supper.

Then comes The Empress from Like Wendy (also Dutch), which again doesn't seem to be breaking new ground until you reach its final minutes, when some majestic keyboard parts happen, accompanied by poignant vocals. Final Conflict with The Janus sound English (and indeed they are), and vaguely folky. They're certainly not afraid to try out a multitude of ideas on this track, but the execution isn't always up to the job. Aiden by Maryson would have been pedestrian but it's saved by some groovy instrumental segments.

And then come our own chaps with The Pleasure House. (There are two short MP3 samples from this track to download here and here.) It's arguably the most original contribution to the album, certainly in terms of its structure. Recorded post-Following Ghosts, it's curious that its sound is reminiscent of pre-FG days; plenty of swirling Mellotronic atmosphere from Dean, Roy providing tension with a heavyish guitar narrative, whilst Stu recounts our hero's eye-opening exploits in murky Victorian London with relish and the customary clarity.

This version clocks in at 9:46, so it's a significant item in the Galahad opus (and even then was edited down from an initial 13 minutes).

The CD concludes somewhat disappointingly with Searching by Jacob's Ladder, which is insipid enough to be an Andrew Lloyd Webber composition, followed by a short upbeat jazzy instrumental passage Getting the Picture by another Dutch act Cliffhanger.

Overall, though, this album works: there's sufficient strength in the better tracks, there's variety and there's colour. It's effective both in its own right and (for people like me who don't have a particularly wide listening base) as an excellent introduction to the music of some acts they might not be familiar with. And at just a tenner (which includes P&P within the UK) from Avalon Records here, there's little excuse not to take the plunge!

— Stu C

Reviews

Read what others have had to say about this album at:

Progressive World | New Horizons | Axiom of Choice

Track Listing

1. The Reading Room, Brassé
2. The Private Space, Galleon
3. Silent Land, Night Watch
4. The Last Supper, Aragon
5. The Empress, Like Wendy
6. The Janus, Final Conflict
7. Aiden, Maryson
8. The Pleasure House, Galahad [mp3 sample 1] [mp3 sample 2]
9. Searching, Jacob's Ladder
10. Getting the Picture, Cliffhanger