Actual Fantasy Revisted

computer eyes is one of my all time favorite songs

Love it

Well written songs.

Actual Fantasy Revisited is the (mostly) re-recorded version of Ayreon's 1996 release Actual Fantasy. Released after the highly successful rock opera debut, The Final Experiment, mastermind Arjen Lucassen decided to surprise his fans with a more electronic-based album consisting of fewer singers and a loosely connected lyrical theme. To give the album a more electronic feel and digital atmosphere, Lucassen used a drum machine, but the outcome was rather mediocre. The album didn't sell as well as the other Ayreon releases and Lucassen always wondered how it would sound if he used a real drummer and another bass player. Which he realized eight years after the original release. Enter godly drummer Ed Warby (who else would Arjen work with anyway?) and bassist Peter Vink. Most of the guitars were re-recorded, some from scratch, the synth solos were changed, and even the programmed flute was replaced by the real instrument. The result is definitely a more powerful, more fresh, more crisp, and more alive. It's not too often that a re-release surpasses the original record, but this has happened with Actual Fantasy Revisited.If you've heard the original version, be prepared to be blown away by the excellently crisp production. Each instrument is audible and perfectly mixed. The re-recorded guitars and synths are a lot better and more interesting. For those of you who haven't heard the 96 release, you're in for a treat. Arjen Lucassen used only three singers on this disc: Robert Soeterboek for the powerful stuff, Edward Reekers for the melodic parts and Okkie Huysdens for the Beatle-like choral passages as Arjen himself explains in the liner notes. The album may remind you of the Star One project in this aspect, with fewer singers, and therefore, a more compact sound. Lucassen plays heavy guitars and blends them with powerful grooves, psychedelic electronics and symphonic melodies. There are incredibly beautiful moments on this disc, starting with "Abbey of Synn". According to Arjen, 'synn' is the old spelling of 'sin', yet it also makes a direct reference to the important role of synthesizers on this album, hence the somewhat electronic approach. Another song, "Computer Eyes", deals with how computers and technology in general may have bad effect on people's lives, occupying their time, and making them lose touch with real life. The lyrics of "Beyond the Last Horizon" were penned during the last days of Arjen's father's life, so needless to say, it's a very personal song. Musically the album is equally competent, if not more haunting. Ed Warby's awesome drumming on "Abbey of Synn" gives the track more life, whilst Arjen plays one of his most emotionally engaging guitar solos ever. It's a soaring guitar run that blankets the tune right after the singers introduce themselves with their unique vocal delivery. The same solo is repeated in the latter part of the track by Rene Merkelbach on keyboards. It's jawdropping. "The Stranger from Within" opens with an electronic patch, but as the live drums kick in, you can't believe you're listening to the same song. Warby's drumming is the main focus of the track and it's surrounded by atmospheric keys and pummeling bass guitar! The song gets really dense in its finale. "Computer Eyes" has a similar intro before it picks up a pretty acoustic guitar and shifts to a Pink Floyd-driven psychedelia. Arjen's powerful guitar theme is further enhanced as singer Edward Reekers' warm voice creeps into the mix defining the highpoint of the album. Throughout the whole disc, Reekers proves to be a stunningly powerful singer with a very melodic delivery. As Huysdens does a fitting vocal harmony in the chorus, Peter Vink accompanies him on his pludding bass. Finally Soeterboek's low singing closes the track before you can believe how Arjen managed to blend all these elements so seamlessly.Whilst "Beyond the Last Horizon" deals with an emotional theme, its music is truly uplifting. Reekers and Soeterboek once again combine their voices in the chorus. They sing in a soft tone over really heavy guitar arrangements, but the dynamics are awesome. "Back on Planet Earth" also features a very heavy musical pattern that interlocks electronics and melodic guitar riffs. This is a forceful track with an unforgettable bass line. Arjen says he may have been inspired by Rush - 2112 writing this, which kind of makes it special, since most of the other songs were inspired by (obscure) movies. Other great moments are how the slow keyboard piece is embraced by a forceful, melodic metal drive towards the end on "Forevermore", which Arjen himself sings the final chorus of; or the way Arjen integrates symphonic elements after the processed vocals in the closing track "The Dawn of Man". The tune ends on a somewhat happy note making room for hope. Overall it's a successful blend of a myriad of textures within a compositional framework. This reissue CD also comes with a bonus DVD which features the original version of the album from 1996, the video of "The Stranger from Within" shot by a few students, a behind the scenes feature showing the recording process of drums and bass with Ed Warby and Peter Vink, plus a nice booklet with detailed song commentary by Arjen Lucassen himself. I was pleased to read how he was inspired to write some of those songs I'd been listening to for years. Very good packaging indeed.

Seek out the original version instead, it’s so much better! The original has a awesome overall electronic soundscape plus guitars etc and sounds so much better. The addition of live drums really is a detriment to the overall sound of this ‘revisited’ version. I’m sure you can find the original release on one of the Amazons, eBay, or Discogs

As any other album from Ayreon, this one is no exception, first class musicianship, complex musical structure, simply amazing.Highy recommended for any progressive music lover, a kind of prog-metal-opera. Give it a try !

I was a fan of the original of this album, but i never got around to buying it, and as a result, never did really listen to it as much as the other ones i had. About a week ago this new version came in the mail, and WOW. it really is a stellar album, and while i can't really say it's as good as Electric Castle, The Dream Sequencer, or The Human Equation, it really isn't far behind at all. The rerecorded guitars sound much thicker than on the original recording as well, which really drives the music home.If you've gotten the majority of the Ayreon catalogue already, i wouldn't hesitate for a second on picking up this rerecording/remaster. All the classic Ayreon elements are there (the instantly recognizable synths, chuggy guitars, beautiful spacey melodies, etc.). The main difference between this album and others is that this one seems to be a bit more electronic in feel, and the songs all plod along happily at the same pace throughout. That could be considered a downside i guess, as there are no real upswings in the music, but it's pleasant enough as it is. Standout tracks for me are Stranger From Within, Back On Planet Earth (which uses some of the vocals in the background from the Ambeon reworking of the tune, very nice touch!), and Beyond The Last Horizon. It may be Ayreon's least popular album, but don't pass it off as his worst. Very highly reccomended for anyone looking for just a bit more Ayreon after hearing Electric Castle or The Human Equation.

The other reviewers have described why this album is so good. Easily on par with all his other work...don't let the lower sales make you think otherwise.

Quite a strange choice I felt of Arjen to do another mix of this album in relation to his more brilliant pieces of work. I must admit I do like the original 96 version of Actual Fantasy but in comparison to his previous debut album "The Final Experiment" and his truly magnificent album that came after it "Into The Electric Castle" I do not really think it cuts the mustard.What's even more disappointing for me is the fact that this album as got the 5.1 surround sound treatment and the others have not, and I must admit the 5.1 mix of this album here is really fantastic. Though for some reason I still think the original 96 version is better than this new Revisited version with all its new treatment for my ears.I think where the album Actual Fantasy falls down a bit, is down to not having enough characters to put this story across, and the story is not really as strong or a bit too far out. It's also not what I would call a solid album either with every track being that great and contains a few weak ones amongst the pile here.For me personally out of all 8 Ayreon albums this one as always been the weakest, not saying it's completely bad at all, but it's not in the same league as the rest, and maybe even Arjen saw that in it himself, which is why he tried to rework it. But as I say the new treatment does not really make it any better, apart from the cracking 5.1 mix that is.I seen an interview recently with Arjen being asked about 5.1 mixes for his other albums and him stating it's too expensive to do. I find that a real shame, and really disappointing that the albums "Into The Electric Castle" "The Human Equation" and his latest masterpiece "The Theory of Everything" never got the 5.1 treatment.To sum it up. I feel you get great value for the money here with the package, and if you get a lot more than myself out of the album Actual Fantasy this is very much a must buy. The best thing here for me here is the 5.1 mix and that is really what attracted me to buying it in the first place, and as good 5.1 mixes go, this is very good I will give it that and does not disappoint one bit. So it gets 4 stars from me.

Great album 1st time on vinyl, a little disappointed that the notes included are a direct copy from the CD version and were not updated for this release but I can live witn that

Very Good

Excellent by a brilliant band of musicians

Great cd but damaged on delivery