Kompendium

In 2012, Robert Reed conceived Kompendium as a one-off, large-scale concept album featuring an all-star lineup including Steve Hackett, Francis Dunnery, John Mitchell, Nick Barrett, Nick Beggs, Gavin Harrison, Mel Collins, Dave Stewart, Troy Donockley, Steve Balsamo, English Chamber Choir, and London Session Orchestra.

The goal was to combine the storytelling depth of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds with the intensity of progressive rock. The resulting Beneath the Waves tells the story of a man’s quest for redemption after losing his wife and infant daughter, with the sea as the central metaphor. The project was a four-year undertaking, with Reed overseeing every aspect from writing to final delivery.

In 2026, Reed is releasing Kompendium: Beneath the Waves – The Director’s Cut. This deluxe edition is an expanded, remixed, and re-arranged version of the original with three new tracks and new contributors such as Peter Jones and Les Penning.