Fact & Fiction [Import, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Twelfth Night | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 29, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Cyclops Records
• ASIN: B00007139Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #875,103 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. We Are Sane

2. Human Being

3. This City

4. World Without End

5. Fact and Fiction

6. The Poet Sniffs a Flower

7. Creepshow

8. Love Song

9. East of Eden [*]

10. Eleanor Rigby [*]

11. Constant (Fact and Fiction) [*]

12. Fistful of Bubbles [*]

13. Leader [*]

14. Dancing in the Dream [*]

15. Human Being (Alternate) [*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Fiction!, September 13, 2003

By 

L. WOOD "Linton" (Staffordshire, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fact & Fiction (Audio CD)

Twelfth Night were one of the more interesting bands in the new prog revival of the early 80's, who never quite fulfilled their potential. This CD is an excellent representation of their early work and is really split into two halves. Tracks 1-8 are the original vinyl album tracks, the remainder are a collection of more synth-pop orientated demo's & tracks which did not make the final cut. It is tracks 1-8 that are what prog fans will really want to get their teeth into. Highlights are the magnificent 'We are sane' and the eerie 'Creepshow'. Both are over ten minutes long and are prime examples of what set TN apart from the crowd - namely lead singer Geoff Mann's quirky vocal style & exceptional lyrics and the superb muscianship by the rest of the band. His work is thought provoking and profound. Much of which is still relevant twenty years on, in today's political climate of deceipt and spin. But there is more to this work than that provided by Geoff Mann. The sweeping and atmospheric instrumental track 'The poet sniffs a flower' highlights the Dave Gilmour-like skill of guitarist, Andy Revell and the considerable talents of his collegues, Clive Mitten (bass/keyboards) & Brian Devoil (drums). 'This City' is a dark moody tale of inner-City life, and 'Human Being' is a magnificent example of new prog, and another dark tale of political oppression, although the clever humour in GM's lyrics often lighten the load. The jaunty, up-tempo title track is the nearest we get to a 'pop' song without losing a prog feel, surely a potential hit single with major lable backing. The album proper is rounded off by the romantic tear-jearker 'Love Song' often played live as a final encore. The collection of demo's that complete the CD will be of interest to die-hard TN fans, but are far more poppy & of inferior quality - sleeve notes by Brian Devoil explain the reasoning for this.

All in all this is a fascinating and in parts quite magnificent piece of work by a band that really should have rivalled Marillion at the top of the new prog tree. A must for all new prog fans.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The right rate 3 stars: 4 stars to the originality !!, January 7, 2003

By 

Lethe "lor68" (Milan, Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fact & Fiction (Audio CD)

This is not a masterpiece within the new-prog field, nor a fascinating and appealing work ... yet the originality and the great interpretation by the vocalist Geoff Mann as well, make this album a diverse one! Some fans of "rebel"-new prog (Marillion oriented) regarded this album as the first example of punk-prog ... certainly this work is not derivative and expresses a lot of political protest, even though hidden quite well !! The execution is good, apart from some sloppy rythm and a formulaic drumming style too,but the impact is strong and the protest by Geoff is really surprising as well(listen to the "Creepshow"). The instrumental the "Poet sniffs a flower" is quite odd and epic too! The final output is not bad and, naturally, this band since their first approach into the field of UK 80's new-prog, created a very different and much more creative style in the early eighties, than a lot of other merely derivative bands(even though They are not necessarily better !!) Check this album if you like a simple new prog style- enriched with new ideas- and also their live ("Live and let live"), which is interesting ...not essential completely, but nevermind !!