I wanted to like this 19 track cassette. Really I did. Why? First, it’s a rock opera, and I’ve always been a sucker for rock operas. Second, it’s based on (and named after) the first of a series of books — written by band member Jodie Forrest — in which the tale of Thomas the Rhymer becomes mingled with Norse mythology. A fascinating premise. Unfortunately, somewhere between the premise and the execution, something went awry.
Let me back up a bit to describe the band itself, and the history of the tape. According to the official Web site, Jodie Forrest’s husband Steven was inspired to compose these companion songs (music and lyrics), when she gave him a guitar for his birthday. The songs were first played live in May of 1995, with Jodie narrating (presumably from the novel) between each. The recording followed in 1996, featuring Linda Smith on vocals; Jodie herself on synth; Michael Chandler on upright and electric bass; Mike Roig on djembe, congas, chimes and cymbals; and Steven on acoustic guitars and synth. An extra keyboardist, Robert Griffin, is also featured.
Now then, back to the tape … and the music. If I had to sum up The Rhymer and the Ravens in one word, I think it’d have to be pretentious. Though ponderous isn’t far behind. I haven’t finished reading the companion book, but the songs would clearly appear to follow the novel’s chronology, and presumably have lyrics which illuminate or illustrate the plot points. Unfortunately, even after repeated listenings, not a single lyric has stayed with me. There’s an excerpt from the penultimate song, “Miles in the Mind,” in the liner notes, and the lyrics don’t look all that forgettable, or all that bad, but when set to music, it just doesn’t work.
And that’s my single biggest complaint with this tape: the music. While there are some fine bits of acoustic guitar work reminiscent of very early Moody Blues, too much of the music is repetitive and monotonous. It’s extraordinarily difficult to tell one song from another when you’re listening to them, let alone in retrospect. On the Web page, Linda Smith’s vocals are compared to the lead singer of Renaissance (and, truth be told, the band’s overall sound evoked Renaissance for me), and at times she reminded me of a young Grace Slick. A rich voice, powerful at times. But when paired with the male vocalist … the harmonies just fell completely and utterly flat.
It pains me to have to review The Rhymer and the Ravens so negatively, because the music is so obviously a labour of love for the Forrests. In fact, the web page mentions a second rock opera in the works, for the next book in the series, The Elves’ Prophecy: The Book of Being. I am enjoying Jodie Forrest’s novels to date, so I hold out hope that time and practice will improve Dragonship’s second musical foray. I cannot find it in me to recommend this tape, though.
(Seven Paws Press, 1996)
