Also see: Arena ~ Pendragon ~ Oliver Wakeman
From: Elias Granillo, Jr.
>I think Clive has also played in a band called "Thin Ice" but don't
quote me on that as I don't have my "bible" in front of me. Strangers On A Train
is very similar in lush production like the latest Arena/The Visitor with lots of
keyboards used in a orchestral structure.
Thin Ice is actually Clive's studio's moniker. Thin Ice Studios is where Threshold (and
Pallas, I think) and all-projects-Nolan record. I think some of Clive's best
playing/composing is on the mega-slobberfest (credit goes to Dan for that term) _Casino_
album, with the legendary Geoff Mann (vox/lyrics) of Twelfth Night fame (plus Sylvain
Gouvernaire, Karl Groom, Jon Jeary, Brian Devoil, etc.). _Casino_ is stunning from
beginning to end, and one of the coolest concept albums I've ever heard. I think it even
supercedes the neo-prog tag. Arena are also kicking Pendragon's butt at this point... This
year we're supposed to get the re-release of Nolan's instrumental [soundtrack material]
CD, _Conflicts_, which will be very cool. Clive's one of the guest keyboardists on the
upcoming double-disc roller-coaster concept-ride by prog act Ayreon, called _Into The
Electric Castle_, which will also feature Fish and Damian Wilson (Threshold fame), among
others!! Holy shit!!!!! Then there's _Jabberwocky_, Clive's collaboration with Oliver
Wakeman!!!!! Sheesh, this Nolan guy gets around! ...please stay away from Shadowland (the
band Clive *sings* lead vox in), unless you get _Through The Looking Glass_ and really
like it. The last one, _Mad As A Hatter_ didn't make the grade. Besides, Clive's too busy
singing to write any really cool keyboard parts in Shadowland (IMHO).
From: "Richard
Zywotkiewicz" <>
While I've yet to sample any Pendragon, I have to say everything that Clive
Nolan touches is great. The ARENA stuff is great indeed. But he's also done
Jabberwocky, SHADOWLAND (mad as a hatter is fantastic!), and the Key. I think
Nolan is a modern genius!
From: Martin Bartosik <> Shadowland (another offshot of Clive Nolan)... I have just Ring Of Roses. It was bargain buy, but I pretty like it, I had expected another Arena clone, but it turns to be something different (they sound more like Pendragon than Arena)
From: "Carlos Lima" <>
Subject: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Hi folks! The new album from keyboardists Clive Nolan
& Oliver Wakeman - "The Hound of the Baskervilles" -
will be released next Monday, 4th February. However, the
CD is already available online on the Verglas website.
I already got my copy and I must say it is very good :-) It is very
symphonic, with lots of nice and inspired keyboards, but also has good
and heavy guitar solos by Arjen A. Lucassen (Ayreon)
and Karl Groom (Threshold). Some tracks have similar
structures as Ayreon's songs, togheter with good
vocals from many guest singers. This makes the album look, a little bit,
like a rock-opera in the vein of Ayreon's projects. So, the album is not
"progressive music", but "progressive-rock" :-)
I?m sure "The Hound of the Baskervilles" will be a strong contestant for
album of the year and I recomend it to both Nolan & Wakeman fans, but
also to Ayreon's fans. (see
more comments on the
Oliver Wakeman page)