RICK WAKEMAN - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974-1988) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Journey to the Centre of the Earth is one of progressive rock's crowning achievements. With the help of the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir, Rick Wakeman turns this classic Jules Verne tale into an exciting and suspenseful instrumental narrative. The story is told by David Hemmings in between the use of Wakeman's keyboards, especially the powerful Hammond organ and the innovative Moog synthesizer, and when coupled with the prestigious sound of the orchestra, creates the album's fairy tale-like climate. Recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall, the tale of a group of explorers who wander into the fantastic living world that exists in the Earth's core is told musically through Wakeman's synthesized theatrics and enriched by the haunting vocals of a chamber choir. Broken into four parts, the album's most riveting segment, entitled "The Battle," involves Wakeman's most furious synthesized attack, churning and swirling the keyboards into a mass instrumental hysteria. With both "The Journey" and "The Forest," it's the effective use of the strings and percussion section of the London Symphony Orchestra that causes the elements of fantasy and myth to emerge from the album's depths. The gorgeous voice of Ashley Holt is effectively prominent, and some interesting guitar work via Mike Egan arises occasionally but meritoriously amidst the keyboard fervor. The whole of Journey to the Centre of the Earth still stands as one of the most interesting conglomerations of orchestral and synthesized music, and it is truly one of Wakeman's most flamboyant projects. by Mike DeGagne  
Tracklist:
1 The Journey / Recollection 21:12
2 The Battle / The Forest 18:59
Credits:
Arranged By [Music Arranged For The London Symphony Orchestra And The English Chamber Choir By] – Danny Beckerman, Wil Malone
Bass – Roger Newell
Choir – The English Chamber Choir
Conductor – David Measham
Drums – Barney James
Guitar – Mike Egan
Narrator – David Hemmings
Orchestra – The London Symphony Orchestra
Producer, Written-By – Rick Wakeman
Vocals – Ashley Holt, Garry Pickford-Hopkins