Merlin – Bard of the Unseen explained

Merlin – Bard of the Unseen
Type:	studio
Artist:	Kayak
Cover:	File:Kayak_MerlinUnseen.jpg
Released:	2003
Recorded:	2003
Genre:	Progressive rock
Label:	ProActs
Producer:	Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman
Prev Title:	Night Vision
Prev Year:	2001
Next Title:	Nostradamus - The Fate Of Man
Next Year:	2005

Merlin - Bard Of The Unseen is the 11th studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. This concept-album is a new version of side 1 of their 1981 album Merlin, with nine new songs added.^[1]

At concerts in 2003, the band played this rock-opera in its entirety. Singer Cindy Oudshoorn was credited as special guest on the album, but became a permanent member of the band after the tour.

Track listing

1. "Merlin" - 7:50
2. "Tintagel" - 2:49
3. "The Future King" - 2:58
4. "The Sword In The Stone" - 3:43
5. "When The Seer Looks Away" - 4:18
6. "Branded" - 3:51
7. "At Arthur's Court" - 3:15
8. "The Otherworld" - 7:59
9. "The Purest Of Knights" - 5:48
10. "Friendship And Love" - 5:13
11. "The King's Enchanter" - 2:31
12. "Niniane (Lady Of The Lake)" - 7:08
13. "The Last Battle" - 8:11
14. "Avalon" - 3:44

Words by Irene Linders and Ton Scherpenzeel. Music by Ton Scherpenzeel, except tracks 3, 5, 8, 13: Pim Koopman

Lineup

• Ton Scherpenzeel - keyboards, vocals, percussion
• Pim Koopman - drums, backing vocals, voice-over
• Bert Heerink - lead and backing vocals
• Bert Veldkamp - bass guitar
• Joost Vergoossen - guitars
• Rob Vunderink - guitars, lead and backing vocals

Guest musicians

• Cindy Oudshoorn - lead and backing vocals
• The New Philharmonic Orchestra

External links

• Official homepage

Notes and References

1. https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kayak&titel=Close+To+The+Fire&cat=a Dutch Charts - Kayak albums chart positions