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The Fall of the House of Usher

by Gordon Midgley

supported by
Darren Douglas Danahy
Darren Douglas Danahy thumbnail
Darren Douglas Danahy I have always loved music that can tell a story, and here we have a story set to music. This is a delight to both fans of progressive rock music and gothic literature.

Excellent job.
Dirk Radloff
Dirk Radloff thumbnail
Dirk Radloff Gordon Midgley's concept album, which honors the work of Edgar Allan Poe, sounds very british in every moment, shades of King Crimson, Pink Floyd are flying around. Sometimes the music also reminds me on the almost forgotten band Family of Roger Chapman. Gordon is blessed with a very flexible voice and an arsenal of different guitar-sounds. The songs are epic and tend to grow into wide symphonic arrangements. This is classic Prog at its best. Favorite track: Last Rays.
crescentmoonfanpage
crescentmoonfanpage thumbnail
crescentmoonfanpage Another great album from Gordon Midgley ! Very creative, original and a great concept with surprising twists. A must buy ! Favorite track: Storm.
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1.
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
2.
Last Rays 06:42
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
3.
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
4.
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
5.
Witness 09:12
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
6.
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
7.
Announcement 07:38
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
8.
Storm 04:34
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
9.
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet
10.
The Fall 14:08
Each download comes with print-at-home jewel case inlays and an illustrated pdf lyric booklet

about

During the whole of the dull, dark, and soundless eighties Yuletide I was occupied by a Christmas annual's feature on "The Master of the Macabre". Dark, monochrome illustrations and an overview of Poe's more notorious tales held me fast and began my lifelong relationship with the House of Usher.
Captivated by Poe's ability to move seamlessly from suspense and terror to genre-subverting parody and pitch-dark humour, I knew I'd found 'my author'. Giving the reader enough detail to stimulate their imagination but remaining sufficiently ambiguous to ensure they worked towards their own personal interpretation.
Suitably inspired, in the early 90s I attempted to write a rock album based on The House but bailed out after only a few songs with an inescapable sense of having tried to reinvent the wheel.

Several years later I heard a completion of Debussy's opera and became immersed in the psychology and symbolism of his era which led me to re-evaluate what The House meant to me as an adult, and before too long I began to form 'scenes' in my mind's eye.
Whether the world needed another interpretation of 'Usher' was not the issue:
I needed to respond to a very singular summons.

It was time.

The time is now.

credits

released September 22, 2017

Inspired by the genius of Edgar Allan Poe

Music & Lyrics : Gordon Midgley

Gordon Midgley : Vocals, guitars, bass, keys
Nathan Jon Tillett : Vocals on (3) Doctor's Warning
Gary Reeves : Drums on (8) Storm
Madeline Usher as herself

Cover Art : Nathan Jon Tillett

Thanks to Nathan for his dream-within-a-dream artwork and his fabulous characterisation of the maverick medic.
Cheers to Gary for steering us through the Storm from his drum stool
Thanks to Messrs W & F for riff-testing and SJ, TT, CS, MT & GM for their encouragement on listening to the drafts.
Last but not least here's a special shout to all my friends and supporters on social media and internet radio.
I wouldn't have made it without you.

24 bit masters

A Scanulf Studios Production

See you all next year for Napier's Bones V

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Gordon Midgley Bradford, UK

Soundtracks to mind-movies we've all seen.

Napier's Bones' fellow traveller.

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