With the recent release of the extended DVD version of "Lord of the Rings - Return of the king", what better way to celebrate it than to dig deep into this captivating journey through Tolkien's world. The perfect setting for this very special kind of Epic Rock music.
Bob Catley's last collaboration with
Ten singer/songwriter
Gary Hughes also remains his finest hour as a solo artist. There are several reasons for this. For one, there is not a bad moment on Middle earth. Though only a couple of songs stand out every single one of them is essential and all together they form an album that just feels whole. The music captures a grand atmosphere right from the start and keeps it through the album. Once you have put the album on it is very hard to press stop before it has ended. That is how a concept album should work.
The album slowly eases you into its enchanted setting with the foreboding
The wraith of the rings. Guitar maestro Vinny Burns plays a major part right from the start, adding details to the music constantly and making sure that it never slows down to a bore. Overall he does a splendid job throughout. He especially shines on the three-part
The fields that I recall with both great riffs and a most excellent solo spot. The warm keyboard sound gives this song a soothing beginning before it picks up speed and heaviness as
Bob Catley goes into storyteller mode. I really love
Bob Catley's voice on this album. He sings with a lot of emotion and manages to pull the listener very close to the action. He has a voice that is tinged with both sadness and hope at the same time and uses that to its full extent.
The songs on Middle Earth aren't as immediately catchy as the ones on the two first
Bob Catley solo albums (The Tower & Legends). They rely more on each other and the overall feel of the album. This is also what gives the album a strong longevity.
There is a definite upbeat feeling in the air as you pass through
City Walls. The keyboard leads the way but the song is carried by Bob's singing.
Against the wind sees Tracy Hitchings adding a female touch to the music and the harmonies work very well. There is a great mood in this song, but I would have like a little more variation.
One of my personal highlights is the huge three part
Where you lead I'll follow, which builds up slowly with a lot of emotion. Both the keyboard melody and Bob's voice bring a sadness to the opening moments. With a lesser singer this would have fallen completely flat. The song speeds up as it enters its second part with
Stormcrow and Pilgrim, driven by sweeping keyboard and guitar melodies. The vocal harmonies are another plus and the guitar solo packs a nice punch too. Returning to the emotional beginning in the end brings the song full circle. I have a weakness for big epic songs like these.
Like "City Walls",
Return of the mountain King has a positive vibe, again driven by a keyboard melody and very rythmic drumming. The flow of this song just draws me in.
The end of summer begins in an almost dramatic way with just Bob and a piano and proves again what a fantastic voice he has. The song is a melodic wonder with a highly infectious chorus that is bound to get you in a good mood. Vinny Burns' guitar glides in and out of the sound and complements the music perfectly. The piano bridge nicely continues into the hectic
This gallant band of manic strangers. This is one of those songs that feels more like a passage through the album than an actual song. I love the way the song breaks into each verse which are definite highlights.
The final
The Fellowship is a grand and fitting end to the album, ending it on a relaxed and peaceful note, leaving me with a feeling of wanting to take this whole trip once again.
For some reason the lyrics to
The wraith of the rings and
Return of the mountain king have vanished from the booklet. Instead I've got a couple of very silly pictures of Bob (Hatley?)... Bob, what is with that enormous hat ?
Middle Earth was released back in 2001 and it is one of those albums I often get down from the shelf just to experience a particular mood. As a whole the album is magnificent and one of those that I can't compare to much else. It stands out and I don't think I will ever grow tired of it. The definite proof of a classic to come.
If you like music that oozes with atmosphere like most of
Ten's albums, "
Gary Hughes' Once and future king" or "Clive Nolan & Oliver Wakeman's The hound of the Baskerville", then I am sure that you will find this to be a completely mesmerizing musical work. Middle Earth compels me to bring out the three B's: Big, Bigger, Bob!
Written by
Steen Sunday, January 9, 2005
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