(Review from progarchives.com)

Released in 2000 as the first of two albums entitled “Universal Migrator”, this set bears the sub-title “Dream Sequencer”. The two sets come from rather different moulds. While part 2 (“Flight of the Migrator”) has a distinctly metal edge to it, this album focuses on lighter, more melodic aspects.

These albums continue a developing science fiction story started on Ayreon’s first album (but bypassed on the second). By now, Earth has been destroyed by a war, the survivors forming a colony on Mars. These innovative people build a “Dream Sequencer”, allowing them to experience once again, their past lives.

The opening “The dream sequencer” is a smooth, Gilmour-esque scene setter, with atmospheric spoken word introducing a lead guitar instrumental. As we merge into “My house on Mars”, the mood remains constrained, with processed lead vocals alternating with a female chorus. The track builds subtly, with horn like synths (as featured on the aforementioned “The final countdown”) conveying the main theme. If you enjoy those opening numbers, you are pretty much guaranteed to be drawn in by the rest of the album. “One small step” for example is a magnificent piece, but could well be “My house on mars, part 2″.

“The shooting company of Captain Frans B. Cocq” is one of the most diverse numbers on the album, dipping into David Bowie territory at one stage, complete with his Cockney style accent. As is Lucassen’s custom, he calls on the services of a diverse range of vocalists and instrumentalists throughout the album. Of these, highlights include the appearance of Lana Lane on a number of tracks, and Clive Nolan adding keyboards to “2084″. The closing “The first man on Earth” features the distinctive voice of Neal Morse, resulting in a song which is a strange crossbreed of Ayreon and Spock’s Beard.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the album is the way Lucassen develops the songs. Time it seems is not an issue here with many of the numbers, while relatively simple in structure, being elaborated into 7 and 8 minute pieces. That is not to imply that they outstay their welcome, the listener’s attention is retained throughout by inventive instrumentation and variations on the themes.

Simply sit back and enjoy and hour or so of highly melodic music performed by masters in their field.

Line-up:
- Arjen Lucassen / electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, analogue synthesizers, Hammond, Mellotron and additional keyboards, vocals
- Erik Norlander / analogue synthesizers, piano, vocoder, Hammond and additional keyboards
- Rob Snijders / drums
- Clive Nolan / synth solo (3)
- Johan Edlund / vocals (2)
- Floor Jansen / vocals (2)
- Lana Lane – vocals (3, 6), voice (1), back vocals (4, 5)
- Edward Reekers / vocals (4)
- Mouse / vocals (5)
- Jacqueline Govaert / vocals (7)
- Damian Wilson / vocals
- Neal Morse / vocals (10)
- Mark McCrite / back vocals (10)

Track List:
01. The Dream Sequencer – 5:09
02. My house on Mars – 7:48
03. 2084 – 7:41
04. One small step – 8:45
05. The Shooting Company of Captain Frans B. Cocq – 7:57
06. Dragon on the Sea – 7:08
07. Temple of the Cat – 4:10
08. Carried by the Wind – 3:58
09. And the Druids turn to stone – 6:36
10. The first man on Earth – 7:19
11. The Dream Sequencer reprise – 3:38

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