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THE PROG FILES - IN REVIEW
IAN NEAL / ALL IN THE GOLDEN AFTERNOON
Track List :
1. Shining Really brightly
2. Alice
3. All In The Golden Afternoon
4. Sinfonia
5. She
6. Violet, White, Lilac Lily
7. Kingdom Of The Birds
8. The Dawn Wind
total run time: 56min
Ian Neal is a British musician who recently released this album titled "All In The Golden Afternoon". It took him 3 years to finish the recordings of this project which was influenced by Lewis Caroll's work. Keyboards and guitars are the two major instruments played by Ian, however throughout the CD there are samples of readings of poetry by a child (Ian himself sounding like a little kid). Although it is an instrumental album for the most part, you can feel that the songs are written around a theme. Since we are talking about Alice in Wonderland, I believe this theme is about "a past time", like childhood. The poetry readings of the child give you feelings of flashbacks.
Ian's music reminds me of Genesis, Mike Oldfield and even Camel on some parts. He blends ambient and rock to create the sound of his own. As far as computer effects go, you will find virtual mellotron on this album.
The first song "Shining Really Brightly" opens up with the reading and it is a nice blend of ambient and pop-jazz with a changing tempo. "Alice" sounds more like, it could have been written by a Scandinavian because of its cold atmosphere. The third track of the album, "All In The Golden Afternoon" is somewhere between Camel and Goldfrapp and stands out alone compared to the other songs. This is one of my most favorite songs on this CD along with "Violet, White, Lilac Lily" which has some vocals on it, and I have a feeling that making a CD with vocals was not Ian's intention, however when you hear this song you can't help but think that vocals would take this CD to a totally different place. This song also includes samples of the sounds of hand played wine glasses recorded on a virtual mellotron. The vocals are very new-age, kind of like Enya.
There are songs on which you will hear acoustic or electric guitars as leading instruments. Like "She", or "Kingdom of the Birds". These instruments change the ambience of the album and actually make it sound more like old school prog. As for the "electronic" elements, I can say that they will not bother you. Ian keeps these effects as close to natural as possible in my opinion. However I find myself needing more guitars as well as vocals.
Altogether, this is a well thought project, and you will notice that a great deal of time went into it. Also, the use of the virtual mellotron brings "All In The Golden Afternoon" to a more prog-y place, if you think about finding a real one might be a little costly. This CD is a pretty good fusion of different genres like prog rock, ambient and maybe a little classical. If you like early prog but are open to listen to electronic stuff, you might like "All In The Golden Afternoon"
Ian uses :-
Acoustic piano,
Virtual Mellotron/ Chamberlin,
Strings,
Choir,
Harp,
Wine glasses,
Flute,
Acoustic Guitars,
Electric Guitars,
Vocals,
Organ,
Bass Pedals,
Edirol HQ Orchestral,
Monophonic synthesizers,
Polysynthesizers,
String synthesizers,
Electric piano,
Halion,
Bird and buzzing insect sounds.
Ianealfans's Details
Status:
Married
Zodiac Sign:
Pisces
Ianealfans is in your extended network. Posted at 3:34 PM Oct 6 view more
About me: A LOVER OF ALL GOOD MUSIC ESPECIALLY PROGRESSIVE ROCK, WHO DISCOVERED IAN NEAL'S SUPERB WORK HERE ON MYSPACE - TRULY A REMARKABLE TALENT AND ONE WHO'S MUSIC SHOULD BE HEARD BY ALL.STILL IN ITS EARLY STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION, THIS FANPAGE IS TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS MUSIC AND IN A VERY SMALL WAY, GIVE A LITTLE BIT BACK TO IAN FOR ALL THE ENJOYMENT I HAVE HAD LISTENING TO THE WONDERFULLY CREATIVE, AND UNIQUE MUSIC HE HAS GIVEN US.DEL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IAN'S FIRST STUNNING ALBUM "ALL IN THE GOLDEN AFTERNOON" - A TRUE MASTERPIECE.
Electronica, Prog Rock and Classical is a mixture of styles of music that you may not think, work together. How wrong can you be, and a very talented, Ian Neal, has proved just that with his debut album "All In A Golden Afternoon". Every once in a while an album is released that just blows you away with the first listen, this is no exception. Based on Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" a combination of music and verse, it is a true masterpiece and if there's any justice in the world, it should be heard by the masses, it's up there with the best, there's no question about that. Three years in the making might seem a long time to produce an album but when you hear the quality and production that has gone into this project you will understand why it took so long and Ian will not accept second best, he is a perfectionist and it undoubtedly shows in his music. Ian's musical influences include, King Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd and Barclay James Harvest amongst others and listening to this album, you can hear likenesses to these bands work somewhere along the way. Other recent works of Ian's include an EP called "The Lake", a thirteen minute track inspired by the 1769 lakeland poet "Thomas Gray" and which has now just been re-worked to be a fully instrumental piece. Also, world war one poet "Rupert Brooke" inspired Ian to create "Sonnet V" a.k.a., "The Soldier". A beautifully haunting four minute piece that really works well and one is left wishing that it would continue for much longer, it's that good! "Storm" and "On The Idle Hill of Summer", again a stunning piece of work. Surely it is only a matter of time before Ian is signed up and I sincerely hope he gets the recognition he so richly deserves. Do take the time to check out his music, as it really is special.Del----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RUPERT BROOKE
The War Sonnets: V. The Soldier
If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
Who I'd like to meet: Anyone who loves Ian's music!
you're right...they allow bigger files now. Uploaded 'The Lake'. It was an 18mb mp3 (192mbps), so the limit must now be around 20mb I guess, as I tried the 320mbps file but it wouldn't upload.
Thank you for inviting me. Like you, I found Ian Neal here on MySpace and I contacted him to buy his two CDs. I am very proud to have them. I can tell you that I listen very often to his wonderful music and I do love all the poetic parts in it.
THanks Del .......Ian is just SUPERB .......Great site ....Must take you all day going around them all ....Take care Mate and give my regards to everyone ......HARRY in Somerset .....................
ok I am off on Sunday and I will devote sometime to Ianealfans page and go over it and see what I can come up with. Vitamines on their way also. lol. Just got a call from Renee she is having labour pains. So maybe a trip to the hospital tonight or early morning. I am getting very motherly right now lol. I hope she has an easy labour. I will message you tomorrow some time and let you know what is going on. Daw xxoxoo
Great to have aboard our page Del..you have chosen a great artist here..hence 'Sonnet V on our CTW page, it fits like an English glove, speak to you very soon i promise, it not bee an easy year so far as regards my health and Mo's also, its getting hard to survive Del, take care my good friend..Keith
PS Iv'e been trying very hard to get our page noticed on the CTW guestbook..[postings]..result -a complete waste of time..no feedback at all..i never learn..Lol!
I would be honored to be your friend. lol. anything for you Del. I feel that I have been neglecting Neal lately and some other friends, I must sit down on Sunday and message everyone.
Thank you for inviting me to Ianealfans page. Ian deserves so much recognition for his wonderful music. I will stop by as much as I can. Del you are awesome!!!! Dawn xxoo
