CD: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds - The New Generation | New music reviews, news & interviews

CD: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds - The New Generation

The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one, they said. But twice?

by Jasper ReesMonday, 19 November 2012

All very Wells: Jeff Wayne relaunches Martian invasion

No one would have believed in the last years of the 1970s that human taste was for concept double albums based on novels by HG Wells about invading Martians. No one could have dreamed that the era which spawned shouty gobshites in skinny trousers would also find house room for the alien union between late Victorian science fiction and pompous orchestral pop. Yet, across the gulf of time we can confirm that this did indeed happen. And much as they did in the flash-forward conclusion to the original album, the Martians are invading all over again.

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, many of a certain age will no doubt not admit to recalling, featured Richard Burton and that other noted thespian Phil Lynott plus various recording artistes from the very epicentre of the middle of the road. The reprise – because, yes, it really is happening – finds Liam Neeson replacing Burton on narrative duties (and appearing as a 3D hologram in the forthcoming jumbo arena tour). In place of Justin Hayward to sing “Forever Autumn” in comes knight in white man-made fabric Gary Barlow. And ooh look, to play Wells’s sundry characters they’ve got Ricky Wilson from Kaiser Chiefs (“Brave New World”) and Joss Stone (“The Spirit of Man”). They’re better at singing than acting. But you knew that.

The notion of a prog rock bedtime story is, if anything, even weirder now than then, when pop music and musical theatre were still eyeing each other suspiciously. And just as monumentally boring, unless one happens to be channelling one’s inner adolescent. The arrangements have spent a lot longer in the lab being souped up by boffins in white coats, but otherwise not much has changed. Guitars yowl. Strings exude self-importance. The chugging beat of Wayne’s musical narration remains gruellingly earnest. And the Martians are still felled by bacteria. Hello, 1978, you always were the decade's dodgiest year what with “Mull of Kintyre” and the Winter of Discontent and this. It’s like stepping into a time machine. All very HG Wells.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds - The New Generation is on tour from 1 to 19 December

Guitars yowl. Strings exude self-importance. The chugging beat of Wayne’s musical narration remains gruellingly earnest

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Comments

First things first: I think

Submitted by Sickeningjar (not verified) on Fri, 01/02/2013 - 13:10.

First things first: I think you meant Joss Stone. Not Emma Stone?! The original album scared the bejesus out of me as a child. It still does today. I'm currently listening to the 2012 redux. I think the fact I can listen to it in the house alone, something I can never hope to with the original version, means the modern edge has softened it's chilling atmosphere. So far, I've not finished the whole album but it has its appeal but... I prefer the pant wettingly frightening '78 edition. Although, Neeson gives a good narration.

I listened to some clips of

Submitted by Danielle (not verified) on Wed, 28/11/2012 - 14:38.

I listened to some clips of this and was horrified. Im not quite 'of a certain age' but the original recording is pretty iconic. I'm glad I got to see the stage show before this new arrangement and replacement of Richard Burton. I assume Jeff Wayne approved all their changes, but how on earth Gary Barlow can have the same effect singing 'autumn leaves' is beyond me. I like Gary Barlow and was an obsessed Take That fan, but there's a time and place for everything! I died a little inside. I dont see the point - the arena shows have been using people from the 'modern world' for a while (there was jason donovan, Rhidyan(?) and someone from atomic kitten when i went) - but it was still the original arrangement. anyway. shame newcomers wont get to experience the original........