MAKING OF A TALE OF SHADOWS AND DREAMS

 

THE LYRICS

 

 The writing of A Tale of Shadows and Dreams was fueled by a fascination for dreams and the subconscious. Characters and concepts were influenced by some of Wolf's favorite authors and thinkers. 

 

 For instance, Sandy Lee bases itself around the Anima coined by Carl Jung, as the song symbolizes the corruption of the main character's innocence. It is a part of himself that he will yearn to reconnect with along his journey, but it will morph with the passage of time and the growth of his shadow.

The Sorcerer, inspired by one of Wolf's dreams, is filled with Native American wisdom, from its encounter with an ally to the seven gates which the hero must pass through.The song is also a premonition of the odyssey told in the album, and elements of its imagery exist throughout the main storyline. 

Train To Orwellia, as its name suggest, in influenced by some of Orwell's works. In the song, the main character awakes to the realities of a dystopian society represented by a dilapidated train running feverishly on the stolen dreams of its passengers. Braking out of its spell, the hero finds that most have turned into animals and tries to awaken them.

 

  As a whole,  A Tale of Shadows and Dreams recounts the coming-of-age of its protagonist as he is pushed on a journey through a dystopian world. This fantasy can be appreciated literally, but there are more obscure meanings to this fable for those who wish to dwell deeper. 

 

THE MUSIC

 

  Rooted in Psychedelic Rock, the soundscape changes as this tale of travel develops. Going from dreamy Psychedelia and gypsy influences to grittier rock and experimental synthesis. The drums and congas on select tracks were played by David “Triple D” Diaz, and the rest of the instruments as well as all vocals were performed by Wolf. All the sounds on the album, except in rare cases, were recorded in the analog world. The album was crafted with an old-school mentality which gives the music a sense of rugged realism, lending itself to the dark world in which the story lives.

 

PRODUCTION

 

 This endeavor was self-funded and accordingly took several years to finalize. Wolf wrote and recorded the album sporadically while producing other artists and working a series of odd jobs. Thankfully, his friend Shachar Boussani helped along the way. The bulk of the album was recorded in Wolf’s studio. The drum sessions and final mixing were engineered, by Shachar, at Hummingbird Studios and The Echo Bar Studios.