The Clockwork Prologue

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The Clockwork Prologue
Gandalf's Fist, The Clockwork Prologue, front cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released1 July 2019
Recorded2018, 2019
StudioLamplighter Studios, Patchwork Studios, Friggin'-Hot-Attic Studios, Appleyard Studios, Notes Studios
Genre Progressive rock
Length1:37:11
Label Independent
Producer Dean Marsh
Gandalf's Fist chronology
The Clockwork Fable
(2016)
The Clockwork Prologue
(2019)
Widdershins
(2022)

The Clockwork Prologue [1] is the seventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Gandalf's Fist. Released on 1 July 2019, it is a two disc spanning rock-opera interspersed with a professionally acted radio play between the actual songs. The album is a two-part "Expansion Pack" [2] to their previous album, The Clockwork Fable, featuring an expanded set of the original cast and performers, and providing more characters and storylines alongside the original story.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
DPRPStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Sea of TranquilityStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Sea of Tranquility's Steven Reid wrote "[...] none of this would matter if the music wasn’t up to snuff, but whether encountering the languid surge of "The Waxwork Downs", the grandiose Uriah Heep meets Iron Maiden styled "Leader of Men", the more Saracen-like "Wardens" or the glorious folk prog workout that is "Supplies for the Festivities", there's not a cog that isn't turning perfectly." [4]

The Progressive Aspect's Tony Colvill writes "[...] Every now and then the lunatics have an away day from the asylum; the Gandalf's Fist collective are such a bunch of lunatics. The Prologue is really a tale within a tale, that fits somewhere, though where is a complete mystery to me. [...] In adding to the Cogtopolis storyline, it builds a little flesh on the original story, and what was an epic listen evolves into a saga. [...] The album fits as a tale within; overacting barkingly joyously wonderful. Gandalf's Fist have delivered again. It completes the Fable, and I really look forward to the next tale, even if the subject may change. [...]" [5]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Dean Marsh.

Disc One - Part I: The Thaw
No.TitleLength
1."The Belly of the Earth"0:58
2."An Expedition Amidst the Ice Burrows"1:22
3."Wardens"4:32
4."Badgerwhacked"2:03
5."Solar Huntress"6:43
6."Dirty Doyle's Surface Souvenirs"1:35
7."Supplies for the Festivities"5:33
8."Secrets, Traitors and a Smashing Set of Porcelain Ducks on Layby"1:48
9."Blackening"8:46
10."Hall of the Badger King"3:55
Total length:37.15
Disc Two - Part II: The Pieces of Our Time
No.TitleLength
1."Sun Sickness"1:58
2."Menders of Devices"6:14
3."The Clokkemaker"12:52
4."A Shortcut Across a Deranged Steam Conveyor"2:13
5."The Waxwork Downs"4:27
6."The Sovereign Airship Station"5:16
7."Leader of Men"8:08
8."Wheels in Motion"3:12
9."The Lamplighter (Overture)"15:36
Total length:59.56

The Cast

The cast list is taken from the liner notes, with further background to the characters they play also available. [6]

The Orchestra

with

The Choir

with

Voice Actors

with

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References

  1. "Gandalf's Fist - the Clockwork Prologue".
  2. "The Clockwork Prologue" . Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  3. Hennig, Stefan. "Issue 2020-005: Gandalf's Fist Inter-Review". www.dprp.net. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 Reid, Steven (16 July 2019). "Review: "Gandalf's Fist: The Clockwork Prologue" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". seaoftranquility.org. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  5. Colvill, Tony (10 July 2019). "Gandalf's Fist – The Clockwork Prologue album review". theprogressiveaspect.net. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. "The Clockwork Fable - Welcome to Cogtopolis!".