Images (of Life and Death) was composed in the music rooms of Newman College, Preston, in the summer of 1982 by former students, Peter Cobb and Anthony Hickey, both 19 at the time. The pair had already written two musicals, The Maid of Orleans and Along the Hard Way, but were keen to draw on their musical influences to create a long piece retelling the tale of Daedalus and Icarus, focussing on the moral that making incorrect choices, particularly for financial gain, can have disastrous consequences. Inspired by the music of ELO, Steve Hackett, early Genesis, Camel and The Alan Parsons’ Project, the two composers grafted away for hours on piano and guitar respectively to shape their progressive masterpiece. Anthony worked on the lyrics and developed the vocal melodies whilst Pete refined the chords and instrumental passages.
Once the composition process was completed, recordings were made of the piece on lo-fi recording equipment in the Newman College music rooms. Overdubs of guitar, clarinet and synthesiser were made at Anthony’s house and the piece was completed, though of very poor sound quality. The tapes were stored away and nothing further was done with them.
Peter and Anthony went their separate ways, reuniting occasionally for more musical activity, the highpoint being the writing of the musical Relative Strangers in 1986, which was performed at Preston Theatre Festival in 1987.
In 2013, Pete, who had done lots of live and recorded work over the intervening years, contacted Anthony and asked if he would be interested in doing a good quality version of Images (of Life and Death) in his brother John’s Bioluminescence Studio. Anthony agreed and sent copies of the original recordings to Pete, who set to work laying down keyboards, guitars and basic drum programming. He also drafted in his brother and Cobbro bandmate, Joe, to add bass guitar and more refined drum parts. The music was completed quickly and Anthony came in to record lead vocals in 2014. Pete added vocal harmonies and in early 2015, Andrew Carr added some fine flute lines to the closing sections. Next followed mixing by John and Pete, then Si Hardacre, Anthony and John’s nephew, worked hard to master the track during the early summer of 2015.
During early October, several clips of the track appeared on the Images of Life Facebook page to promote its release. The single edit – Images of Life - was released as a free download on Bandcamp on 12th October, and the full track, lasting over 25 minutes, was released on Friday 16th October at a cost of £3.
lyrics
(i) The dream (1:55)
Yesterday I saw a man; a man who sold a dream of paradise many miles away, which you and I can reach, if we can fly, fly like a bird through the air.
(ii) Such a man (0:29)
Such a man I have never seen before; such a man who spoke of peace instead of war; such a man who spoke of fortune and much more. Now his dream is mine.
(iii) Minos (0:52)
Minos, the king of this land, needed Daedalus to work for him.
Minos imprisoned the man and forced him to build for him.
(iv) Bribery (0:36)
I'll give you gold, I'll give you great wealth if you build for me.
Use your talents and use your skills to build for me.
(v) Thoughts and meditations Part 1 (Instrumental) (0:45)
(vi) Images of Life (1:58)
Reflections on the water; reflections of my life.
I see the sun reflected in the sea; I see a bird and I see me.
These are images of life, only images of reality.
I see the sun high above the sea; I see a bird and I see me.
These are images.
(vii) Thoughts and meditations Part 2 (Instrumental) (0:43)
(viii) The laws of nature altered (1:24)
Daedalus altered the laws of nature; he watched birds flying through the sky.
When he had altered the laws of nature; he was able to join them in the sky.
“I shall fly like you,” he said, “I shall fly to my paradise.”
(ix) You can learn to fly (1:21)
You can see me fly in the breeze, you can watch me soar through the trees,
You can wonder how you can fly, you can join me, you can learn to fly.
You can see me high in the breeze, you can watch me soar through the trees,
You can wonder how you can fly, you can join me, you can fly.
You can see me fly through the trees,
You can wonder how you can fly, you can join me, you can learn to fly.
You can learn to fly, you can learn to fly.
(x) The vision (Instrumental) (1:36)
(xi) The Warning (1:03)
Daedalus made a pair of wings with feathers which he cut and when he'd finished them he gave them to Icarus, his son.
Daedalus taught his son to fly, instructing him with fear.
He said, “Avoid the sun for this will melt the wax which holds your wings in place.”
(xii) Waiting (Instrumental) (0:43)
(xiii) Soaring Part 1 (Instrumental) (0:48)
(xiv) Soaring Part 2 (Instrumental) (0:48)
(xv) Panic (Instrumental) (1:40)
(xvi) Helplessness Part 1 (Instrumental) (0:33)
(xvii) Helplessness Part 2 (1:40)
I saw him flying high, floating in the morning sky - a dream come true.
The sky grew overcast, I knew that he was falling fast, what could I do?
(xviii) The Lost Son (1:29)
Daedalus had lost his son; all he found were feathers on the water.
Just a painful memory of the way things should have been. Icarus was dead.
(xix) Images of Death (3:48)
Reflections on the water; reflections of my life.
I see a star shoot across the sky, I see it flicker, I watch it fade and die.
These are images of death, only images of reality.
(xx) Images Finale (0:54)
I bought a dream, a dream which cost me dear, don't buy your dreams for they may disappear, they're only images.
credits
from Images (Of Life And Death) (25:13) Full Track,
released October 16, 2015
MUSICIANS:
Anthony Hickey: All lead vocals.
Pete Cobb: Vocal harmonies, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, drum programming.
Joe Cobb: Bass guitar and drum programming.
Andrew Carr: Flutes
John Hickey: Percussion programming
Produced by John Hickey with Pete Cobb.
Engineered by John Hickey.
Mixed by John Hickey with Pete Cobb.
Mastered by Si Hardacre.
All music copyright 1982/2015 Pete Cobb and Anthony Hickey.
All lyrics copyright 1982/2015 Anthony Hickey.
Recorded, engineered, mixed and produced at Bioluminescence Studios, Preston between 2013 and 2015.
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