The John Walker Imaginarium – Time Shift. CD & Download bundle. USA AND CANADA ONLY
£22.00
Gil Galad returns with their most ambitious work yet “The John Walker Imaginarium – Time Shift”. Nearly 80 minutes of cinematic prog rock inspired by a world of shifting realities.
You can now order the limited edition launch version and secure a truly unique keepsake, CD with a 20-page booklet. The purchase includes a code to download high quality WAV and MP3 versions of the album and its stunning artwork, free of charge when you buy the CD.
THIS VERSION FOR USA AND CANADA ONLY. PRICE INCLUDES SHIPPING SUPPLEMENT
The John Walker Imaginarium
Time Shift
- Prisoners of Time (6:30)
‘We all have time machines...those that take us back are memories and those that carry us forward are dreams.’
H G Wells – Author
- We Are Scientists Not Philosophers (5:38)
‘Science is what you know. Philosophy is what you don’t know’
Bertrand Russell – Philosopher, logician, mathematician
- The Traveller: Altered Destiny (6:59)
‘We explore the vagaries of time; Parallel worlds where everything happens in tandem with everything else. However, our minds are ill-disposed to extract the truth behind the thin veils that blind us.’
Charles Peacock – Theoretical Physicist (The John Walker Imaginarium)
- A Chance to Speak (2:00)
‘I last saw her on the outskirts of Durham…How she danced on those silken, silver threads I will never know: She was elegance and strength, and light as floating feathers…’
John Walker speaking of his loss of Hai-Yun (The John Walker Imaginarium)
- The Watchers (5:05)
‘The primary objective of a Watcher is to ensure the safety and security of the community, by whatever means necessary within the limits of the primary directive set out in Principles of Service’
The Watcher Manual; Section 1; sub-section 2; para 1
- Escape From York (4:45)
‘We need to go, or you will not live out the hour!’
Victoria Blixen (The John Walker Imaginarium)
- A Walk in the Woods (6:14)
‘I thought all the trees were whispering to each other, passing news and plots along in an unintelligible language; and the branches swayed and groped without any wind.’
JRR Tolkien – Writer and philologist
- Dreams of Samira (4.39)
‘Nothing in the world is single, All things by a law divine. In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine?’
Percy Byshe Shelley from Love’s Philosophy
- The Burghers (5.52)
‘The future has already arrived; it’s just not evenly distributed yet’
William Gibson - Writer
- Before Today is Yesterday (5.23)
‘And we danced on the brink of an unknown future, to an echo from a vanished past’
John Wyndham – Writer
- Darkened Embers of Suspicion (3.06)
‘In the wastelands of memory, our past haunts us when all is dark and rested. We become robed in lost moments, and half remembered phrases that twist and torment’.
Nev Tobin – (The John Walker Imaginarium)
- The Strange Long Night (3.40)
‘Believe what? That tomorrow night beneath the full moon, I’ll sprout hair and fangs and eat people? It’s bulls**t!’
David – American Werewolf in London
- The Storm (6.23)
‘Batten down and lock up! Sound the alarm! Storm coming!’
Citizen of Whitby (The John Walker Imaginarium)
- After the storm (5.03)
He raised his eye Soul-smitten; for, that instant, did appear large space ('mid dreadful clouds) of purest sky, An azure disc, shield of Tranquillity; Invisible, unlooked-for, minister of providential goodness ever nigh!
William Wordsworth from Composed During a Storm
Jerry Lucky (The Progressive Rock Files) –
Jerry Lucky (The Progressive Rock Files)
New Music from Gil Galad has become something to behold, and this new recording is an astonishing musical statement! Recognize, this is a band that had its “hey-days” in the eighties and then essentially disappeared from the music scene until 2024 and yet over that time has not lost an ounce of creativity. In fact their new music displays a maturity many modern bands could learn a thing or two from.
This new release, The John Walker Imaginarium incorporates all of the creativity of the past and updates it with new technology, new ideas and new sounds, along with years of musical maturity to create an amazing musical production that could best be described as a mix of the best of the Alan Parson Project and Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds. Only for me, it’s better all around.
Fourteen tracks of music with many “spoken-word” interludes go to propel the band’s fascination with the non-fictional character of John Walker, the man who invented the friction match. The sound is rich and lush with both modern and vintage sounds, mostly from the keyboards, but this is an amazing collection of songs that hearkens back to a time of musical listening that begs for the experience of collapsing on the couch with the lyric sheet and music on loud to recreate the overall proper listening experience.
Then just when you think any one of these songs is figured out, the band nudges the composition in an all-together different direction, making for a totally progressive rock journey of music and story. The music is grand, melodic, and yet full of suspense and drama. Simply amazing.
More than that, the music is assembled in an amazing physical package of visuals, including lyrics and period perfect photos. This is a first class production from all perspectives that puts to rest the old adage that, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” the fact is these ‘old-dogs’ have got plenty of musical and visual tricks up their sleeves.
I can’t recommend the music of Gil Galad enough! There is so much here to enjoy. Absolutely Brilliant.
Jeff Himes –
In a world of forgettable pop music; one hit wonders and interchangeable singers, my brain craves music that deserves my attention. This album meets that need. Based on the real-life John Walker (inventor of the friction match), this is like a musical novel.
Starting with the packaging, you get a lyric booklet illustrated with great period, steampunk style photos. The graphics are perfect.
The varied styles and songs create an atmosphere of tension and drama and the story sweeps you up. From beautiful ballads to prog rock; it all works together. The brief narrations set the stage for the songs following them. This is an album that asks for your attention and richly rewards your listening. It’s all great, standouts include ‘The Watcher’, ‘Escape From New York’, ‘The Burghers’, and “Prisoners In Time’. It’s truly impossible to pick one favorite as all the songs weave of tapestry of intrigue and wonder. If you’re looking for music and a band that you can connect with, check out Gil Galad. I’m not sure where John Walker is headed but count me in on his next journey.
Jeff Himes –
(Revised and edited review)
In a world of forgettable pop music, short attention spans, one hit wonders and the latest instant “star”, I crave music that is worth listening to and deserves my attention. This album meets those needs. Based on the real-life John Walker (inventor of the friction match), this is a musical novel.
The packaging is engaging and you get a lyric booklet illustrated with great period, steampunk style photos. The graphics are perfect and set the tone for what you’re about to experience.
The various styles and mix of songs create an atmosphere of tension and drama and the story sweeps you along. From slower ballads to prog rock; it all works to keep your interest and wanting to hear more. The brief narrations set the stage for the songs following them. The vocals are excellent and the musicianship is top notch. This is an album that asks for your attention and richly rewards your listening. I found myself listening with lyrics in hand on the second run through so I could follow the story in more depth. It’s all great, standouts include ‘The Watcher’(benign paranoia!), ‘Escape From New York’, ‘The Burghers’, and “Prisoners In Time’(the keyboard work on this is awesome).
It’s truly impossible to pick one favorite as all the songs work together to weave a tapestry of intrigue and wonder. If you’re looking for music that engages and a band that you can connect with, check out Gil Galad. I’m not sure where John Walker is headed but count me in on his next journey.