Named after King Ludwig II’s castle in the Bavarian Alps, the German symphonic prog band Neuschwanstein started out playing Rick Wakeman covers. After that, the next logical step (obviously!) was to set Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, to a long and rich piece of symphonic progressive-rock music.
Neuschwanstein debuted its atmospheric version at a secondary school in 1974, competed in a battle of the bands contest with the music in 1975 and then begain performing the piece live in earnest -- complete with stage props, special effects and masks, a la Peter Gabriel-era Genesis. Indeed, Alice in Wonderland reportedly was inspired by “Supper’s Ready” and Wakeman’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
Finally released as an album in 1976, this music is almost entirely instrumental -- swirling with refined piano parts, sprightly flutes and synths, and sophisticated symphonic elements. According to Cherry Red Records, which appears to be the lead distributor of this remastered version, Neuschwanstein's original version of Alice in Wonderland had narration and vocals in German; they now, for the first time, have been replaced with English-language parts read by Sonja Kristina of Curved Air.
Musically, this warm and very proggy album stands alone and does not need narration. But Kristina proves to be the ideal storyteller, her voice mingling memorably among the brilliant instrumental passages. Informative liner notes -- including a breakdown of the complex details about how the English-language narration came about -- also enhance the listening experience.
Track Listing:
1. White Rabbit
2. Gate To Wonderland
3. Pond Of Tears
4. Old Father’s Song
5. Five O’Clock Tea
6. Palace Of Wonderland
7. The Court Of The Animals
8. Alice’s Return
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