MEDEA
The inspiration for Individual Unique
came to composer Henry Meeuws (Casual Silence) when he was on vacation in
In 1998 he went solo with his Medea
project and in September 2000 he joined the Dutch progressive rock band Casual
Silence.
The end result is a concept
album/rock opera that can be compared to Nikolo Kotzev’s Nostradamus or Daniele
Liverani’s Genius: A Rock Opera and has 9 different male and female vocalists.
This is the third Medea release, but the first full-length album as the first
two were demos.
Henry Meeuws himself wrote the (partly) fictional story and
composed the music and played all instruments on the album.
MEDEA means "Tricky" and it is the name of a ruthless
sorceress from Greek Mythology. She was a mixture between a witch and a
goddess. Individual Unique stands on the one hand for the unique personality of
Michelangelo’s Buonarroti, the central figure in the story. On the other hand
it stands for the nine vocalists who performed on the album. They have all
together played a unique part in participating on the record.
The part fictive concept tells us about Enzio, a young artist from the eighteenth century who wants
to be a famous sculptor. He leaves his life behind him and departures to
Henry finds his inspiration in the ProgRock/Metal as in classical
music.
He is inspired by Jon Oliva (Savatage), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon),
John Petrucci (Dream Theater) and Daniël Gildenlow (Pain Of Salvation). These
people c.q. bands are of great influence on his musical development. Besides
that he likes to listen to the classical works of Beethoven, Bach or
Saint-Saëns.
MEDEA shall stay a studio-project . Because he played the
instruments himself it is not possible
to bring it live on stage. Maybe there a chance that Casual Silence play some
of the songs at their gigs. In due time there will be a next Medea album
released. But first he wants to invest his time in Casual Silence. The new CD is
just released and they
will be working on writing new songs. Casual Silence has for the moment his
priority.
Medea-Individual Unique (2003)
Ouverture 1564 (4:43)
Make The Grade (4:47
Silhouette Of Monuments (5:23)
Day’ & ‘Night’ (9:52)
The Blind One Leads The Way (6:26)
Tell Me… (8:52)
FuGA (2:04)
Mirror Man (8:36)
A Dream Left Behind (4:26)
Henry Meeuws: all guitars, all keyboards en programmed drums.
With Vocal assistance from:
Marina van der Aa as
Marcel van den Boogaert as Francesco
Ernst Le Cocq d’Armandville as Vasari
Maurice Fende as Day
Desirée de Greef as Dawn
Loes Jansens as Night
Ruud Kohlen as The
voice of Michelangelo
Rob Laarhoven as Enzio
Eric Smits as Condivi
Richard Verhoeven as Twilight
Medea-Individuel
Unique.
When you
listen to this record it will time warp you to an forgotten era. I putting this
record in the same category as other great concept-albums as
Queensrÿche-Operation Mindcrime, Jeff Wayne-War of the worlds or
Savatage-Streets & Dead winter Dead. To name but a few. But Medea’s Concept
Album has its own feel and own sound. I find it so unique because Henry Meeuws
has pulled it off all on his own with a little help from his friends.
1.
Overture 1564
Light
orchestrated, then metal and Prog-Rock go hand and hand like brothers on a
relaxed stroll.
2.
Make the
Grade
The guitar forms a bridge between these two songs and the basics
are set and the story is away. All the vocalists make this record a joy to
listen too. Music and vocals are a perfect mix.
3.
Silhouette
of Monuments
Classic piano and keyboard invite you to open this third door of
this Prog-Rock Opera. A great song with reminders and influences of Marillion.
No dirty steal but more a tribute of this great band.
4.
Day &
Night
The longest track on the record and the most diverse.
Mystic and dark piano cords. And yet Metal guitar sets in and a
swirling keyboard. This is all Medea. Light and dark together as one.
5.
The blind
one leads the way
Heavy and fast. Great stuff. Large melodies intertwined with
metal and melodic vocals.
6.
Tell me
Classical instruments like cello and piano. A emotional song
between Rob and Marina. Metal
guitars in a great marriage with the piano.
7.
Fuga
Fuga is composed by Johan Sebastian Bach. Arrangement by Henry
Meeuws. Just a little pause
till the big finale.
8.
Mirror Man
Military drums is the first sound we hear. Then metal sets us in
fire. With classical guitar. Eric smits is doing what he knows best. A vocalist
extra-ordinair. Its just a delicate sound of thunder. And yet all the vocal are
so melodic and perfectly match each other. A great effort by this Dutch Prog
Rock Wizard.
9. A dream left behind
A classic guitar and the soft vocals of Rob and Marina leads in
the final track of this great album. So emotionally sung that it leaves
Goosebumps along my spine.
Rating:90 %
All Info about
Medea you can contact
Henry Meeuws
Wolfsveld 63
5712 HJ Someren
The Netherlands
Tel: +31(0)493-494871
Or
Toon Verhappen
Casual Silence Management
Tel: +31(0)40-2051959
Email:
info@casualsilence.nl
Rob Laarhoven (Casual Silence, ex-Darwin’s Pride)
Ernst le Cocq d’Armandville (Casual Silence)
Joss Mennen
(Mennen)
Edwin Balogh
(Ayreon, Tamas, Supersonic)
Sandra Peeters
(V-Male)
Nanda Philipse
Marjolein Husken (Sylver Myst)
Maurice Fende (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Robbie van Stiphout (Day Six)
Eric Smits
(Casual Silence)
Dirk van Helmond (Queen Of Hearts)
Henry Meeuws - MEDEA / CASUAL SILENCE
The begin of
December 2005 sees the release of the second solo album of MEDEA: ‘Room XVII’ - A new Dutch Rock
opera! (06-12-2005)
In this concept where past and present, fiction and non-fiction
are closely interwoven, the themes of schizophrenia and the Dutch history of
the V.O.C., especially the voyage of the
Batavia, take a central place.
The story is set in Amsterdam during the winter of 1912 and will
be told through the eyes of the witness Jan Pieterszoon Coen; A schizophrenic
man (Conrad) is hiding in a forgotten chamber (room XVII) of an old theatre. In
the period of the V.O.C. it had the position of an important trade-centre. From
that room the man can secretly witness the music lessons of a young pianist.
It's just her beautiful music that leads him all over again in his second
personality; Jeurian.
In 1628 he sailed as a cadet with the Batavia to the East, and in
that way he had taken part in the dramatic events of this V.O.C. ship. Then on
a certain day the theatre becomes in danger of closing, because the music
teacher has other plans with the building. The piano lessons cannot be
continued and that drives the man to despair. It leads him in a situation of
chaos… Henry’s musical roots go all the way back to 1989, when Meeuws was
guitarist of the melodic metal band Yarreth, with which they released three
demos; ‘The Outcast’ (1989), ‘Two Sides’ (1992) and ‘Out Of The Daydream’
(1997). In 1998 he went solo with his Medea project. Meanwhile he also recorded
a solo album with classical pieces on the acoustic guitar (1999). But after
some time a ticklish feeling was rising and he wanted to stand on the stage
again and play for a live audience. In September 2000 he found his musical
challenge as a keyboard player and so he joined the Dutch progressive symphonic
rock band Casual Silence. He quickly had an important part in writing and
composing their music.
At the beginning of 2003 he recorded with Casual Silence their
successful album ‘Once In A Blue Moon’. Nearly at the same time his first full
length solo album under the name MEDEA and the album “Individual Unique” was
released by Red Sea Records. This album was also a rock opera about the life
and works of Michelangelo. Henry played all the instruments himself and he made
use of 9 guest vocalists, among which were 3 of his fellow members of Casual
Silence. The album got praiseworthy reviews (‘vette krent’ in the IOpages).
With ‘Room XVII’ Henry has accepted the challenge to surpass this sublime album
in all of its aspects. He has recently signed a record deal with Snakebite Records
and again he engaged an impressive cast of musicians for the release, such as
for instance Rob Laarhoven (Casual Silence), Joss Mennen (Mennen), Edwin Balogh
(Ayreon, Supersonic), Robbie van Stiphout (Day Six) and Sandra Peeters
(V-Male). In addition there will be a unique co-operation with the male choir
Lambardi on this album. And with Fon Janssen (Mennen, Project Fear) has taken
charge of all the drums. With these musical ingredients ‘Room XVII’ promises to
become a great, varied and bombastic rock opera!
MEDEA: ‘Room XVII’
A Rock Opera by Henry Meeuws
1. Room XVII 8.28
2. Farewell? 4.28
3. Endless Knot 5.02
4. Maiden Journey 5.42
5. My Dual Mind 8.37
6. Dance Of The Deals 3.33
7. Graveyard Islands 8.45
8. State Of Suspense 6.20
9. Chaos Solution 10.46
First of all I must
say this album surpasses Medea-Individual Unique (2003) on all fronts.
Henry has worked on
this album for almost two years and you can hear this in all directions.
What a great album
has he given us.
It has all what a
prog-rock album should contain. From old school to neo-prog.
I know that he is
inspired by Arjen Luvcassen and his work with Aryeon.
This album stands
without a doubt along side with the best of Ayreon.
A mayor
breakthrough and big score from me. 100 %.
Also all the guest
musicians are the finest what rock has to offer in the Netherlands
Rob Laarhoven (Casual Silence, ex-Darwin’s Pride)
Ernst le Cocq d’Armandville (Casual Silence)
Joss Mennen (Mennen)
Edwin Balogh
(Ayreon, Tamas, Supersonic)
Sandra Peeters (V-Male)
Nanda Philipse
Marjolein Husken (Sylver Myst)
Maurice Fende (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Robbie van Stiphout (Day Six)
Eric Smits (Casual Silence)
Dirk van Helmond (Queen Of Hearts
And big
congratulation from the Doorway Team
The artwork is in the hands of Erwin Munsters. (Once In A
Blue Moon, State Of Mind)
Finally I wanted to
say that everyone who holds progrock to his heart buy this album by this
multi-Talented/Musician From The Netherlands.
Ronald “The
Doorway”Vermulst
Info: www.casualsilence.nl E-mail:
henry@casualsilence.nl
For Interviews feel free to contact :
Theo Samson: rockincpromotion@home.nl
Tel : 0031(0)45-5691065
© The Doorway Master