Cygnus Rock Band - Dreams of Adventure (Yggdrasil)

What a beautiful, delicate, wonderfully built song this one is as well.

Of course I'm aware that you peasants average music listeners out there have absolutely no clue about it. No worries, I got used to you being more deaf than a doorpost. I'm just disappointed since you are not just horrendously stupid uncultured deaf but you're unwilling to realize that you're deaf.

You are that kind of people for whom we need instructions on shampoos, too 😒

My very own, absolutely personal concept (which I tell in my summary review about, too) is that this is the sort of "B side" of this concept album. On the "A side" we heard the story of a Viking battle, with all the determination, the heroes and the sadness, too. Now, on the "B side"

good old cassette days...

(ahem, sorry, I just got hit by the nostalgia train)

our beloved bards tell us about the light, happy and adventurous side of Viking life.

Even the song's theme is light and melodic. It starts with ambient noises

I'd give an arm and a leg to get to know how they recorded the sea noises and the humane shouts!

and the melody is led only by a flute and a violin, gently supported by Ruxx's percussions

Do I hear well sleigh bells very humbly in the background?...

finally the humane voice joins them.

Ruxx is singing the whole song meanwhile a very soft stringed instrument is whispering around him on an aethereal voice.

Harpe?...

The chorus makes all the instruments join Ruxx's vocals: the flute, the percussions - along with timpani now! -, the violin and I hear something else, too, and I'm not sure what it is. It might be this very soft stringed instrument which I hear as a harpe, but... my ears suggest that it's an acoustic guitar.

Or both... I wouldn't be surprised knowing the creativity of these wonderful Colombians.

After the chorus the bass joins the song. Quiet, but deep and determined, it holds all the other instruments on its shoulders, taking it over from the percussions that tangibly loosen up and start to dance as the reliable, gentle giant boar is softly grunting.

The second stanza is backed by the now strong and steadfast rhythm section and the harpe-sounding instrument. Ruxx's voice gets on its wings, as he's telling about the beauties and adventures of a Viking raid. 

The solo is a gem.

After the chorus everything quietens, the flute, the violin and the humble string instrument are singing here only.

And I swear I hear here the tiple, too.

Then the symphonic orchestra appears, as the chimes open the gates of the solo for them. While the flute keeps singing the lead, the strings wonderfully surround it, take it on their shoulder and dance around carrying it, in front of the eyes of the mesmerized listener. Among the electric instruments only the rhythm section is present like the source of energy for all that is moving, dancing, living and singing. 

The chorus returns, now with the warriors' choir. All instruments accompany them, the orchestra, the rhythm section, the flute

and I swear I hear humbly in the background the harpe-sounding instrument and the acoustic guitar.

By the way, has anyone noticed it - beside me - that there's no electric guitar in this song and apart from the drums and the bass everything is acoustic?

Of course not, peasants you deaf people 😒 you can't even make a difference between a regular guitar and the bass, what can we expect from you?...

and the song ending is again amazing, unbelievable and very creative.

Please, please, tell me the story of recording these ambience sounds! 😍 We will collect all these stories and release them as a book. It'll be titled as "The Secrets of the Swan Constellation - The Story Behind All Cygnus Songs".

Or something like that. 

What makes this song even more special is that it has got a video as well. It's a "home office" video, it was released in May 2021 during the lockdowns. Our favorite Colombians re-recorded the song along with their Mexican fellow musicians, Blu and Reny, and the string quartet with Diana "Dianita" Figueroa, Yiseth "Yiyi" Palencia, Elizabeth Muñoz and Mariana Posada. And since it's not a usual videoclip but a re-recording, you need

you fking must, did you understand me?...

to listen to the album version first, with open ears and heart, and then watch

WORSHIP

the home office video as these fantastic, very creative musicians are playing this song literally live. Try not to faint as the bass grunts into your ears while the violin playfully singing with so much flavor and fire, or while Ruxx is singing with his powerful, sharp tenor and Blu is doing magic with a small, stringed instrument.

And for your surprise, dear listener, and let me spoil it now: Deneb is singing, too, in this version. Yes, the Mellow Baritone is there as well.

For everyone's joy and delight.

Watch them all, in awe, with love, admiration, joy and slowly but surely growing addiction. Watch and listen to the complex bass theme, Ruxx's flowing voice and his trademark fills, watch them, listen to them, fall in love with it all, then start it over.