EDWARD REEKERS

Dutch progressive-rock artist Edward Reekers recently announced his first solo album in 15 years, The Liberty Project – Released 4 August via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group – and today reveals another majestic sprawling delight from the album in, “Good Citizens.” The song features Damian Wilson (Threshold), Koen Herfst (Vandenberg), Cindy Oudshoorn (Kayak) and more. Watch the video below.

This was one of the first songs he recorded for the album and talking about it he says, “After the second Big Bang – history repeats itself – a different or parallel world has developed, not unlike the world we know. A terrible disease has spread, and people live in fear. We hear the politicians saying everything will be fine if we all follow the rules and regulations that they have drawn up. Naturally, they cannot deliver what they promise; what else is new?”

He continues, “When I recorded the demos for this album, I sang all the lead vocals myself. As the project was coming along it became clear to me that I had to have a variety of voices for the different songs and groups of people singing them, giving each group and each song a face of its own. I found Good Citizens one of the hardest ones to ‘give away’, so to speak, because I loved singing it. Fortunately, my good friend Damian Wilson was willing to lend his great voice and overwhelming interpretation to the politicians both in this song and ‘Never again’. And I must say, I’m more than happy with and proud of the result!”

He adds, “This song was also the first song that guitarist Mark Bogert played. Even in the demo stage he added so much ‘feel’ to the songs. Just listen to the guitar solo he played on this song! I was very lucky to have him on the album and I’m very grateful for all the work he put into it. What an amazing musician and wonderful person! Besides Mark we hear Koen Herfst on drums, Johannes Adema on bass, Joost van den Broek on Hammond and I play some keyboard parts and percussion(cowbell!). Also the backing vocals were done by good, good friends of mine: Cindy Oudshoorn, Marcela Bovio and Peter Bauchwitz.”

He has already revealed “The Present Day” from the album. When putting together The Liberty Project he called upon a vast pool of talents as well as those featuring on “Good Citizens,” including Steve Hackett (Genesis), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), John’ Jaycee’ Cuijpers (Praying Mantis) and more.

Pre-order the album here: https://lnk.to/edwardreekers

Reekers says, “I wanted to create a story within a story, so I introduced the characters, Thomas and Catherine, falling in love, splitting up and finding their way back together. With a society in turmoil around them where politicians, bankers, and journalists, amongst others, comment on the situation they’re confronted with”.

Reekers was the former lead singer of Dutch progressive-rock titans Kayak. He joined Kayak ahead of their breakout album, Phantom of the Night (1978), which featured the band’s biggest hit, “Ruthless Queen”. The band’s soaring progressive pop-rock and grandiose flourishes proved to capture the ears of fans and the album became the bands most significant commercial success. Reekers was vocalist for Kayak until their split in 1982 and then re-joined in 2005 until 2014.

He released solo albums The Last Forest (1980), Stages (1993), Child of the Water (2008) and continued to tour Europe as a backing singer with artists like Meatloaf, Oleta Adams, Bobby Kimball and even Caterina Valente, and also appearing on records and tours with several 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 soap opera in Brazil and became very popular there. He is a notable collaborator with fellow Dutch prog-rock polymath Arjen Lucassen and his Ayreon project.

It may have been 15 years, but we’re presented with a grand total of 17 glorious tracks. And what immediately attracts attention is the diversity of the material. It ranges from ballads to heavy metal, pop songs, rock-orientated power tracks, genuine blues, and almost classical instrumentals. So, is it a rock opera? Yes. Is it a musical? Yes. Is it a concept album? Most definitely!

Track list

Out of the past…(Prologue) – 02.05
The present day – 04.09
Two lifetimes – 04.21
The disease – 05.08
Good citizens – 04.36
Liberty – 05.34
Patients, have patience – 04.32
The break up – 05.28
Turn to us, learn from us – 05.05
The clash of belief – 06.34
Money – 06.09
We live to die – 05.58
Remember the fallen, celebrate life – 04.56
Onwards and forwards – 05.07
Never again – 02.58
As good as any goal – 05.14
…..into the future (Epilogue) – 03.21

Edward Reekers Online
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Dutch progressive-rock artist EDWARD REEKERS will be releasing his first solo album in 15 Years! The Liberty Project will be released on 4 August via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group and features contributions from Steve Hackett (Genesis), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Damian Wilson (Threshold), John’ Jaycee’ Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Koen Herfst (Vandenberg), Cindy Oudshoorn (Kayak) and more. Listen to new song “The Present Day,” below.

Pre-order the album here: https://lnk.to/edwardreekers

Is it a rock opera, a musical, or a concept album? It’s all three wrapped up in a double album extravaganza. So, what’s it all about? Imagine 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 look like? Who would be its inhabitants?

Reekers says, “I wanted to create a story within a story, so I introduced the characters, Thomas and Catherine, falling in love, splitting up and finding their way back together. With a society in turmoil around them where politicians, bankers, and journalists, amongst others, comment on the situation they’re confronted with”.

On the first song released from the album “The Present Day”, Thomas, welcomes us to his day and age. “We call the time we live in the present day, but so did the people who lived a hundred years ago, and so will the people who will live a hundred years from now,” Edward explains. “After this second Big Bang, we find ourselves in a parallel world very similar to the one we live in. The song is the first song on the album with a lead vocal. It has a powerful beginning and an almost hymn-like touch to it.”

The album is a gargantuan, sprawling piece of majesty. Reekers turned to Joost van den Broek, who he had met during his Ayreon performances, asking him to help him get the Liberty Project on its way. The collaboration turned out to be a magical one. And that’s not the only friend he’s had a little help from. It features Arjen Lucassen Ayreon), Mark Lennon (Venice), Harry Sacksioni, Damian Wilson (Threshold), John’ Jaycee’ Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Koen Herfst (Vandenberg), Cindy Oudshoorn (Kayak) and former Genesis member Steve Hackett contributed a guitar part.

“The recording process was an overwhelming experience for me”, Reekers confesses. “We had Vandenberg’s Koen Herfst on drums, giving it his all, Mark Bogert on guitars, Johannes Adema on 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 it come to life with so many great musicians and singers giving me the benefit of their wonderful talent”.

As a voice actor and director of dubbing, his work can be seen in movie franchises such as Harry Potter as well as the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Fantastic Four and Disney movies such as Mulan, The Lion King II, Encanto and Pinocchio (2022), and The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie.

Track list