Ambeon

Ambeon是Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon)的又一個充滿神秘感的旁支樂隊，它的主要特色是擁有年輕又有才華的女主唱Astrid van der Veen.雖然Arjen錯誤地說Ambeon只是Ayreonauts的又一個分支，不過，他還是糾正說，Ambeon是Astrid 和Arjen的一個計劃項目。
Arjen最開始著手錄制的是一張基于電子，和聲和旋律（這些旋律來自Ayreon當(dāng)初測試他新的硬件系統(tǒng)時錄的一些歌）的全器樂專集。在制作新歌的過程中，Arjen想在一兩首歌中加些溫暖的女聲。Ambeon這個名字就是ambient（周圍的）和 Ayreon的結(jié)合體。（也就是說Ambeon只是Ayreon的分支）。
AMBEON is a unique project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen (AYREON) featuring a young and talented female vocalist, Astrid van der Veen. Lucassen had originally set out to record an ambient instrumental album made up of various patterns and melodies taken from existing AYREON material. Wanting to add a warm human touch to it, he sought out some female vocalists and fell upon a recording by a 14-year old Dutch singer: Astrid van der Veen's was exactly the voice he was looking for. The CD ended up as a mostly vocal album, where Astrid not only sings but wrote the storyline and lyrics as well as melodies to go over some of these remixed ambient tracks.
The project also involved many other talented musicians/singers such as Stephen Van Haestregt (acoustic and electronic drums and percussion), Walter Latupeirissa (bass and fretless bass guitar), John McManus (low flute and Uillean pipes), Pat McManus (fiddle), Erik Norlander (additional synths) and Lana Lane (reversed backing vocals).
While each track on AMBEON stands alone perfectly, the album works equally well as a cohesive whole, successfully blending atmospheric, Celtic, electronic, gothic, metal and progressive styles, and where Astrid's strong, beautiful vocals fit the music like a glove. Her pure, crystalline voice is altogether powerful and soothing, moving nicely with the ebb and flow of the melodies.
Especially recommended to AYREON fans, but lovers of Tori Amos, Kate Bush and folk proggers BLACKMORE'S NIGHT will also appreciate the magical qualities of this unique and faultless production.