Kayak

[Enidi]

Merlin is from 1981. I think Ton and Irene originally intended the whole album to be a conceptual piece all about Merlin (was somebody reading The Crystal Cave, perhaps?) but the record company forced them to compromise. They finally did the full-length concept as intended in the 90s. Irene seems to love her historical/mythological themes, as songs like "Daphne (Laurel Tree)" (based on the myth of Apollo and Daphne) and "Anne" (about Anne Boleyn, tragic wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I) popped up like mushrooms after she joined.



I have a fondness for "Love's Aglow." On the surface, it's just a standard MOR love ballad, but the arrangement is just exquisite, similar to "Irene." And it's a rarity in that it's (to my knowledge) the only Kayak song on which Ton Scherpenzeel sings lead.



Those synthesized "machine" sounds in the middle are well-done. Creepy and effective.

Thank you Progbear...yes...Merlin was 1981. I kept thinking the 70s.

[EBES]

So I have, as of now, the Journey Through Time box set, The First Five, and the Esoteric release of See See the Sun. I compared a few songs from SStS across the three releases, and I'm pretty sure the Journey Through Time and First Five versions are identical. They sound the same and if you look at the waveforms in a DAW they're visually identical. The Esoteric version sounds a bit fuller and richer, and you can tell from looking at the waveform that it's louder. It's not a life-changing difference honestly; you could probably live with any version, though I'm not as intense an audiophile as many on the forum.

[interbellum]

Former Kayak singer Edward Reekers will release a new solo-album, The Present Day, featuring amongst others Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Steve Hackett and Damian Wilson.
Here's a preview from the title-track:

[Rarebird]

Former Kayak singer Edward Reekers will release a new solo-album, The Present Day, featuring amongst others Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Steve Hackett and Damian Wilson.
Here's a preview from the title-track:

Sounds nice and interesting.

[yesstiles]

I find it shocking that Kayak has now released more albums in the 21st-century than they did during their original run in the 70’s and early-80’s.

[Rarebird]

How about an Italian Kayak tribute, playing Merlin bard of the unseen in Italian?

[Digital_Man]

I find it shocking that Kayak has now released more albums in the 21st-century than they did during their original run in the 70’s and early-80’s.

I'm pretty sure that's the case with Magma too and probably a bunch of other bands.

[rickawakeman]

Man, I love me my Kayak rock operas. Merlin, Cleopatra, Nostradamus...this is my kind of schlock-rock.

[Rael]

The latter day Kayak albums are fun, but those 70s albums will always be tops for me. I was listening to The Last Encore a couple of days ago. What a fantastic album and maybe my personal favorite Kayak.

[yesstiles]

The latter day Kayak albums are fun, but those 70s albums will always be tops for me. I was listening to The Last Encore a couple of days ago. What a fantastic album and maybe my personal favorite Kayak.

Yes, The Last Encore has always been my favorite along with Royal Bed Bouncer.

[pb2015]

Mentioned in another thread but I'll add it here since this thread has come back, RIP Max Werner.

[Rarebird]

For those who want to hear more music by Ton Scherpenzeel, he is posting the music of his youth musicals on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/@writeonprod...=dd&shelf_id=3

[interbellum]

^^Ton also released an album with his music for the shows of entertainer Youp van het Hek with the Dutch titel Achter De Schermen: https://oob-records.com/product/ton-...r-de-schermen/

[Rarebird]

^^Ton also released an album with his music for the shows of entertainer Youp van het Hek with the Dutch titel Achter De Schermen: https://oob-records.com/product/ton-...r-de-schermen/

I know.

[Rarebird]

An orbitary for Max Werner (in Dutch)
https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-ach...rums~b72c8808/

[Iconoclassic]

Max Werner's 1981 solo album Seasons has just been released for the first time on CD. Ton Scherpenzeel, Johan Slager, and Edward Reekers all perform on Max's album, although their contributions aren't in the foreground. Ton and Edward were both interviewed for the liner notes.

[interbellum]

Bert Veldkamp, Kayak's bassist in various line-ups, died earlier this week.: https://www.kayakonline.info/

[Rarebird]

Sad news.

[interbellum]

Max Werner's 1981 solo album Seasons has just been released for the first time on CD. Ton Scherpenzeel, Johan Slager, and Edward Reekers all perform on Max's album, although their contributions aren't in the foreground. Ton and Edward were both interviewed for the liner notes.

https://iconoclassicrecords.com/album/seasons/

[Rarebird]

Max Werner's 1981 solo album Seasons has just been released for the first time on CD. Ton Scherpenzeel, Johan Slager, and Edward Reekers all perform on Max's album, although their contributions aren't in the foreground. Ton and Edward were both interviewed for the liner notes.

I would have loved to see Rainbow's end on CD.
Ton Scherpenzeel - LLe carnaval des animaux would also be nice.

[Iconoclassic]

I would have loved to see Rainbow's end on CD.
Ton Scherpenzeel - LLe carnaval des animaux would also be nice.

Those are possibilities if people respond to the Seasons reissue. There are quite a few Kayak solo albums that have never appeared on CD.