Ayreon – The Final Experiment

The Story
Prologue
In the year 2084 scientists have found a way to send messages back into time using time telepathy. With the earth nearly destroyed by many different causes, they have one hope for the experiment: warn the past of the future to avert the fate of earth.
Act I
The receiver of the telepathic messages is Ayreon, a blind minstrel living in 6th century Britain. He’s lived his life in darkness from the day he was born, but one fateful day everything changes — Ayreon can see images. The minstrel believes these visions are sent to him by the Lords of Time. Unaware of how much time there is left before earth is destroyed Ayreon sets out to tell the tale of earth’s demise singing songs of wars, natural disaster, and computer technology. The terrifying tales frighten the villagers who run him out of town.
Act II
Alone, and cast out of his village, Ayreon goes to King Arthur’s castle, and, being a famed minstrel, he is allowed to sing of his visions in the King’s very own court.

Jealous of his ability to foresee the future, Merlin, the court’s wizard, isn’t pleased with Ayreon’s message, convincing the court the minstrel must be a fake.
Act IV
Merlin believes it is necessary to silence Ayreon forever and curses him. With the curse completed Merlin realizes his error, but it is too late. The wizard then predicts that the message will arrive in the mind of another minstrel at the end of the 20th century…

Release Info

1995 Transmission
2005 InsideOut Music
2005 JVC (Japan)

Vocalists

Arjen Lucassen
Barry Hay
Edward Reekers
Ian Parry
Jan-Chris de Koeijer
Jay van Feggelen
Lenny Wolf
Leon Goewie
Robert Soeterboek
Ruud Houweling
Debby Schreuder
Mirjam van Doorn
Lucy Hillen
Astrid v/d Veen (bonus)
Esther Ladiges (bonus)
Irene Jansen(bonus)
John Cuijpers (bonus)
Marcela Bovio (bonus)
Peter Daltrey (bonus)
Rodney Blaze (bonus)
Valentine (bonus)

Instrumentalists

Arjen Lucassen
Cleem Determeijer
Ernst van Ee
Jan Bijlsma
Jolanda Verduijn
Peter Vink
Rene Merkelbach
Davy Mickers (bonus)
Lori Linstruth (bonus)
Jeroen Goossens (bonus)
Valentine (bonus)

Track List – The Final Experiment Special Edition reissue

1. Prologue
   1. The Time Telepathy Experiment
   2. Overture
   3. Ayreon’s Quest
2. The awareness (full track)
   1. The Premonition
   2. Dreamtime
   3. The Awakening
3. Eyes of Time
   1. Eyes of time
   2. Brainwaves
4. The Banishment
   1. A New Dawn
   2. The Gathering
   3. The Accusation
   4. The Banishment
   5. Oblivion
5. Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy
6. Sail Away to Avalon
7. Natures Dance
8. Computer Reign (Game Over)
9. Waracle
10. Listen to the Waves
11. Magic Ride
12. Merlin’s Will
13. The Charm of the Seer
14. Swan Song
15. Ayreon’s Fate
    Ayreon’s Fate
    1. Merlin’s Prophecy
    2. Epilogue

Bonus Disc (2005 Special Edition)

1. Dreamtime
2. Eyes of Time
3. The Accusation
4. Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy
5. Sail Away to Avalon
6. Nature’s Dance
7. Waracle
8. Merlin’s Will
9. the Charm of the Seer