Clive Nolan.

There, chances are that I have your attention now.

You might remember the prog maestro from, oh, Arena, Pendragon, Shadowland, Caamora, Strangers on a Train, Casino and a number of solo efforts. You might also know him from the splendid Jabberwocky and The Hound of the Baskervilles, both in collaboration with fellow keyboard wizard Oliver Wakeman. He has just released his second rock musical Alchemy, and it flew by completely below my hard rock radar, just like Caamora’s She did back in 2008. Having enjoyed She immensely, though, my interest was piqued immediately when I heard of Alchemy, and the two cd’s spanning work hasn’t left my player ever since I bought it. It’s that good. It’s so good, in fact, that it makes Nolan’s 2008 musical sound like a mere dress rehearsal. And for everyone who missed Alchemy the first time round, here it is again, performed live on stage this time. Continue reading →