Nolan and Wakeman - The Hound Of The Baskervilles

The long awaited sequel to Jabberwocky (1999) by Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman has finally been released! Again, they have used a classic from British literature as the basis for a sweeping and dramatic album.

This time the legendary figure of Sherlock Holmes has served as an inspiration. The Hound Of The Baskervilles, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and first published in 1893, is Holmes’ most famous adventure. Its setting, the gloomy, foggy moors of Devonshire, and its starting-point, the ancient curse of a spectral hound that haunts the Baskerville family, combined with a classic detective story pattern, provide an excellent basis for a riveting album.

The cast of the album overlaps with that of its predecessor, but also features a few interesting additions and has become more extensive (two pages with photos instead of one in the booklet!). Back are Bob Catley (Magnum), Tracy Hitchings (Strangers On A Train, Landmarq), Paul Allison, Karl Groom (Strangers On A Train, Shadowland, Threshold), Peter Banks (ex-Yes), Peter Gee (Pendragon) and Tony Fernandez (Rick Wakeman-band). Michelle Young, Ian ‘Moon’ Gould and John Jowitt have also returned, but this time in a more prominent role (on Jabberwocky they were part of the choir). Last but not least, Paul Wrightson features on backing vocals again.

The newcomers are Robert Powell (an actor; his narrations strongly remind me of those by Richard Burton on Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds), Ashley Holt (Rick Wakeman-band), Arjen ‘Ayreon’ Lucassen, Jo Greenland and Eva Albering (ex-Quidam).

A comparison between The Hound Of The Baskervilles and its predecessor Jabberwocky is inevitable. The albums are very similar: they have the same structure, starting with an overture and ending with a sweeping finale; there are narrated parts throughout both albums; and the overall sound is unmistakably Nolan/Wakeman, strongly song-oriented, neo-progressive with a classical touch. The similarities are too strong at times. The intro of The Curse Of The Baskervilles, for example, is very reminiscent of Dangerous World on Jabberwocky. 

There are important differences too, though, which tilt the scales in favour of The Hound Of The Baskervilles. The material on the new album is stronger and its sound is heavier and (even) more theatrical than on its predecessor (which I do like very much!). The guitars are more prominent on the new album, though there are still loads of lush keyboards tapestries, of course. Also, the overall feel is different. Jabberwocky has a fairy-tale ambiance and is fairly upbeat, whereas The Hound… sounds a lot more menacing and dark, which is logical given the book upon which it is based. This ensures that you are really sucked into the story while listening to the album, especially when you have read the book. The album reflects the ambiance of the book very well. The same can be said about the magnificent artwork, by the way.

To conclude, I can say that The Hound Of The Baskervilles is a very enjoyable and highly recommended album, while noting that the makers should be wary of repeating themselves.

The Cast:

Clive Nolan – Keyboards and backing vocals
Oliver Wakeman – Keyboards
Karl Groom – Guitars
Arjen Lucassen – Guitars 
Peter Banks – Guitars
John Jowitt – Bass
Peter Gee – Bass
Tony Fernandez – Drums
Robert Powell – Narrator
Bob Catley – Vocals 
Tracy Hitchings – Vocals 
Ian Gould – Vocals 
Paul Allison – Vocals 
Ashley Holt – Vocals 
Michelle Young – Vocals 
Eva Albering – Flute 
Jo Greenland – Violin 
Paul Wrightson – Backing Vocals

By: Erik Beers