Dutch progressive rock artist Edward Reekers will release his first solo album in 15 years! The Liberty Project will be released on August 4 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group and has contributions from Steve Hackett (Genesis), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Damian Wilson (Threshold), John’ Jaycee’ Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Koen Autumn (Vandenberg), Cindy Oudshoorn (Kayak) and more. listen to the new song “The Present Day”here:
Is it a rock opera, a musical or a concept album? The three are wrapped up in a double album extravaganza. So what is it about? Imagine if there had been a second Big Bang. Would that have altered our evolution or even created a parallel world? And if so, what would that world be like? Who would be its inhabitants?
Reekers says, “I wanted to create a story within a story, so I introduced the characters, Thomas y Catherine, who fall in love, break up, and find their way back. With a society in crisis around them where politicians, bankers and journalists, among others, comment on the situation they are facing”.
On the first song released from the album “The Present Day”, Thomas welcomes us back to his time. “We call the time we live in the present, but it’s also called by people who lived a hundred years ago, and also by people who will be living a hundred years from now,” Edward explains. “After this second Big Bang, we find ourselves in a parallel world very similar to the one in which we live. The song is the first song on the album with a lead vocal. It has a powerful start and an almost anthemic feel to it to follow. he.”
The album is a gigantic and sprawling piece of majesty. Reekers turned to Joost van den Broekwhom he had met during his performances in Ayreonand asked him to help him start up The Liberty Project. The collaboration turned out to be magical. And that’s not the only friend he’s had a little help from. It has the participation of Arjen Lucassen Ayreon), Mark Lennon (Venecia), Harry Sacksioni, Damian Wilson (Threshold), John’ Jaycee’ Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Koen Autumn (Vandenberg), Cindy Oudshoorn (Kayak) and former member of Genesis Steve Hackett.
“The recording process was an overwhelming experience for me,” he confesses. Reekers. “We had Kevin Autumn of Vandenberg on the drums, giving everything, Mark Bogert on guitars, John Adama on the basses, a string section, a mixed choir and even a children’s choir. Having composed all the music and written all the lyrics for the project, it really was a dream come true for me to hear him come to life with so many great musicians and singers giving me the benefit of his wonderful talent.”
Reekers was the former lead singer of the Dutch progressive rock titans Kayak. She joined Kayak before their breakout album, Phantom of the Night (1978), which featured the band’s biggest hit, “Ruthless Queen”. The band’s rising progressive pop-rock and grandiose flourishes proved to capture the ears of fans and the album became the band’s biggest commercial success. Reekers was a vocalist for Kayak until their separation in 1982 and then rejoined in 2005 until 2014.
released solo albums The Last Forest (1980), Stages (1993), Child of the Water (2008) and continued to tour Europe as a backup singer with artists such as Meat Loaf, Oleta Adams, Bobby Kimball it is included Catherine Valenteand also appeared on records and tours with various Dutch and Belgian artists, as well as the legendary Demis Roussos. His solo single “The words to say I love you”was included in a telenovela in Brazil and became very popular there. He is a notable collaborator with Dutch progressive rock scholar Arjan Lucassen and your project Ayreon.
As a voice actor and voice director, his work can be seen in film franchises such as Harry Potteras well as in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory y Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Fantastic Four and Disney movies. as Mulan, The Lion King II, Charm and Pinocchio (2022), and The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie.
It may have been 15 years, but we are presented with a total of 17 glorious tracks. And what immediately catches your eye is the diversity of the material. It ranges from ballads to heavy metal, pop songs, rock-oriented power tracks, genuine blues, and near-classical instrumentals. So is it a rock opera? Yes. Is it a musical? Yes. Is it a concept album? Definitely!
