In the early 90’s, the versatile musician Arjen Lucassen embarked on several projects: a solo album, a progressive rock opera, and a rock album. Around that time, he witnessed singer Robert Soeterboek performing live with Bodine, his former band from the early ’80s. Soeterboek’s vocals left a lasting impression on Lucassen, and personally, the two men clicked. They decided to collaborate on songwriting, resulting in a flood of ideas recorded in Lucassen’s “studio” — a bedroom equipped with a mattress and an old 8-track tape recorder.
They recruited Peter Vink on bass, Cleem Determeijer on Hammond organ, and Rob van der List on drums (who has since passed away). Armed with their demos, they approached producers and record companies. However, in an era dominated by bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Plan Nine’s music didn’t align with popular trends. Ultimately, Arjen chose to pursue what would become the first Ayreon album, while Robert joined the German band Wicked Sensation. Over the years, their connection remained, and Robert contributed vocals to various releases from Arjen’s projects.
Robert’s plans to record a new album served as the catalyst in 2022 to dust off the demos of Plan Nine. Initially, Robert asked Arjen to collaborate on recording the song Annie Moore for his solo album. Listening back to the demos proved so inspiring that those long-lost ideas quickly evolved into a full-fledged album.
Despite the source material being thirty years old, The Long Lost Songs sounds far from dated. You can clearly hear that Arjen Lucassen allowed his development as a songwriter to influence the reworked tracks, and the album received a contemporary production. He also occasionally picks up the 7-string guitar to give the songs a heavier character.
A striking example of this is the opening track, Doctor Robert’s Medicine Show. Starting as a mid-tempo bluesy rock ‘n’ roll number, heavy guitars take over at the bridge, and the Ayreon vibes come through clearly.
Another notable aspect on the opening track is that Robert Soeterboek’s voice hasn’t lost any strength. His raw and bluesy vocal sound elevates the song. Irene Jansen provides background vocals, creating a beautiful contrast with her clear voice against his dark lead.
Throughout the entire album, there’s a potpourri of styles. Annie Moore is a bluesy rocker, while the glam rock influences shine on High Speed Chase and the grandiose Ice On Fire. The first single, Before The Morning Comes, is a delightful blues ballad. Despite this mix of styles, the album maintains a coherent sound.
Vocally, this is a great album, but the instrumental side also packs a punch. Koen Herfst (Vandenberg, Dew-Scented, Supersonic Revolution, and many more) and Rob van der Loo (Epica, Sun Caged) form the rhythm section that gives this album a solid groove. Arjen Lucassen himself played the rhythm guitars and keyboard parts, and for the Hammond and guitar solos, he enlisted Joost van den Broek (Ayreon, Star One, After Forever, Supersonic Revolution, Sun Caged) and Marcel Singor (Kayak, Ayreon), respectively. Marcel Singor’s contribution stands out on this album, without overshadowing the other musicians. He skillfully combines technical play with bluesy elements and a recognizable style. His tasteful solos on this album are a treat for the ears.
The album title, The Long Lost Songs, doesn’t apply to all the tracks on this album. Those familiar with Wicked Sensation’s debut from 2001 may recognize some song titles. Several song lyrics from this album found their way onto that earlier release, and songs like High Speed Chase and Get Down to Bizniz (originally Get Down The Business) appear there in a heavier version. The versions on the new album sound more like the original demo versions, which are also included as a bonus on the CD edition. It’s interesting for those who want to hear how the songs evolved.
The Long Lost Songs is a valuable addition to Arjen Lucassen’s ever-expanding discography and a splendid showcase of Robert Soeterboek’s vocal talent. Robert has also assembled a live band for Plan Nine to perform The Long Lost Songs in the coming months. Don’t miss it!
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