The Human Equation

It's all about Me.

An album in the periphery of the Ayreon storyline. Released on May 25, 2004 by InsideOut Music on two CDs. Its total running time is 1:42:01.

Cast

Vocalists

• James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as Me
• Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, Bloodbath) as Fear
• Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine) as Reason
• Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn) as Love
• Irene Jansen as Passion
• Magnus Ekwall (The Quill) as Pride
• Devon Graves (Dead Soul Tribe/ex-Psychotic Waltz) as Agony
• Marcela Bovio (Elfonía) as Wife
• Mike Baker (Shadow Gallery) as Father
• Devin Townsend as Rage
• Peter Daltrey as Forever (uncredited cameo)
• Arjen Lucassen as Best Friend

Character descriptions on Characters from The Human Equation

Instrumentalists

• Arjen Lucassen: All electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, mandolin, steel lap guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, Hammond organ
• Ed Warby: All drums and percussion.

Guest Instrumentalists

• Robert Baba: All violins.
• Marieke van den Broek - all cellos
• John McManus (Celtus, Mama's Boys)- low flute on Days 13, 16 and 18 and whistle on day 18
• Jeroen Goossens - flute on Days 3, 5, 9, 14 and 18, alto flute on Day 2, bass flute on Days 5 and 14, panpipes on Day 6, descant and treble recorder on Day 13, didgeridoo on Day 16, bassoon on Day 18
• Joost van den Broek (After Forever) - Synthesizer solo on Day 2, spinet on Day 13
• Martin Orford (IQ, Jadis) - Synthesizer solo on Day 15
• Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) - Hammond solo on Day 16
• Oliver Wakeman - Synthesizer solo on Day 17

Track List

CD 1

1. "Day One: Vigil" - 1:33
2. "Day Two: Isolation" - 8:42
3. "Day Three: Pain" - 4:58
4. "Day Four: Mystery" - 5:37
5. "Day Five: Voices" - 7:09
6. "Day Six: Childhood" - 5:05
7. "Day Seven: Hope" - 2:47
8. "Day Eight: School" - 4:22
9. "Day Nine: Playground" - 2:15
10. "Day Ten: Memories" - 3:57
11. "Day Eleven: Love" - 4:18

Total running time: 50:20

CD 2

1. "Day Twelve: Trauma" - 9:54
2. "Day Thirteen: Sign" - 4:47
3. "Day Fourteen: Pride" - 4:42
4. "Day Fifteen: Betrayal" - 5:24
5. "Day Sixteen: Loser" - 4:46
6. "Day Seventeen: Accident?" - 5:42
7. "Day Eighteen: Realization" - 4:31
8. "Day Nineteen: Disclosure" - 4:42
9. "Day Twenty: Confrontation" - 7:03

Total running time: 51:41

Plot

A man lies comatose in hospital after a terrible car accident. The accident was bizarre: it happened in broad daylight with no other cars in sight. The man’s wife and his best friend are keeping a bedside vigil, trying to understand how the accident happened, and hoping for any sign of recovery.

Unable to communicate with the outside world, the man finds himself trapped in a strange realm where his emotions — most of which he’s repressed for a long time — have come to life to confront him with all the choices he has made in his life — and their consequences.

The accident has left the man confused and unable to remember what happened, but as his emotions lead him from one memory to the next, the events leading up to the accident become clear, and he realizes the only way to wake from the coma is to find a way out of his emotional prison.

Notes

The Human Equation also came as a special edition set with two CDs and a DVD. The DVD contained:

• "Inside": Behind the scenes: The Human Equation - 45:27
• "Concept": The concept of The Human Equation - 3:05
• "Ayreon": The Story of Ayreon - 4:26
• "Drums": Ed Warby's drums - 3:32
• "Video": Video clip Day Eleven: Love (5.1 & 2.0) - 3:49
• "Teaser": Teaser trailer - 1:28

External Links

• The Human Equation on www.arjenlucassen.com
• The Human Equation article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.