Fiction
“Between reality and fiction lies the spark of imagination — the place where change begins.” – Dr. Milen Vrabevski, MD
“Fiction” is the ninth studio album by the supergroup Intelligent Music Project. The album features both Bulgarian musicians and internationally renowned guest artists, including legendary TOTO vocalist Joseph Williams, Nazareth frontman Carl Sentance, world-class drummer Simon Phillips (TOTO, Protocol), Richard Grisman from River Hounds, and Ernest Tibbs (Protocol).
“Fiction” takes listeners on a musical journey through dreams, courage, and personal choice. Each track tells its own story, exploring the inner strength required to overcome doubts and challenges, while finding comfort in love and the pursuit of freedom.
Six of the songs were written by Dr. Milen Vrabevski, the founder and producer of Intelligent Music Project. Four tracks were composed by Biser Ivanov and Ivo Stefanov, with lyrics by Angela Rodel and Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata. For the first time in an IMP album, Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata joins as both lead vocalist and composer. Also, Carl Sentance (Nazareth) makes his debut as a songwriter specifically for Intelligent Music Project, contributing three tracks to the album, despite his prior solo work.
CREDITS
Lead vocals: Joseph Williams, Carl Sentence, Richard Grisman, Slavin Slavchev,
Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata
Backing vocals: Joseph Williams, Carl Sentence, Richard Grisman, Slavin Slavchev,
Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata, Angela Rodel (on track 14. Stars)
Guitars: Biser Ivanov
Bass guitar: Ernest Tibbs
Drums and percussions: Simon Phillips
Piano and keyboards: Ivo Stefanov, Samuel Eftimov
Cello оn track 7. Miniature, performed by Marina Hinova
Sound engineer and mixing: Ivo Stefanov
Mastering: Bob Katz
Sound quality control: Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Music producers: Ivo Stefanov and Simon Phillips (on track 8. No Flame, No Game)
Language consultant: Angela Rodel, 2023 “Booker” Laureate
Album cover design: Kristina Tochevski
Album cover concept: Alexander Petrov
Communications Department: Alexander Petrov, Adriana Avramova
Produced by Milen Vrabevski, MD/Intelligent Music Ltd.
Lyrics
Vs1/What do I find? I walk in my sleep
Do I see me at all?
What sign do I put it under?
The road to learning, or a new call…?
Vs2/Although I stay proud in my modesty
And humble within my pride
Criticism stalls my life again
But it’s just a waste of time
Br1/ Anyone nearby will do for me
I cannot make it on my own, you see
And that’s the art, right from the start I knew to take the best of all
Ch/ This shot is a better chance. I reconcile myself to silence
Its mystery may enhance the goal in sight
I’m not aiming to be right. I’m trying to create the right thing
I’m holding my truth inside, and it’s my pride
Vs3/ I do what I can. Perhaps I’ve improved
This climbing is all too much
But when I’m on top, I feel this touch
The better view means so much…!
Br2/ Is it gonna hurt, is it а fight?
Maybe it’s gonna change into the light
Is it alright? A grip so tight again…? I can’t be in it…!
Ch/ This shot is a better chance. I reconcile myself to silence
Its mystery may enhance the goal in sight
I’m not aiming to be right. I’m trying to create the right thing
I’m holding my truth inside, and it’s my pride
Br 2/Is it gonna hurt, is it а fight?
Maybe it’s gonna change into the light
Ch/ This shot is a better chance. I reconcile myself to silence
Its mystery may enhance the goal in sight
I’m not aiming to be right. I’m trying to create the right thing
I’m holding my truth inside, and it’s my pride
Music and lyrics by Milen Vrabevski, MD
Arrangement: Milen Vrabevski, MD, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Lead vocals: Joseph Williams
Introduction/ And now I see
You do reveal
My hidden self, my inner reеl
Vs1/ I justify some reason
The one left in my mind
While going through a tough long season, of my own kind
Vs2/ And while my head is reeling
From wealth to which I strive
I value offramps that remind me I’m reaching peaks
At yet much higher price
Br/ I don’t look back to say good-bye
Although I’m on the rack for certain
Sensing there’s a nice surprise
Right behind the curtain
Ch/ You came into my life for a reason
To help me learn and grow
And where I go I see the sun glow
You came into my life for a reason…
Vs3/ On higher ground I take a breath
And mark the view below
I see I’ve covered such a distance
Will I find strength?
There so much more to go…
Br/ I don’t look back to say good-bye
Although I’m on the rack for certain
Sensing there’s a nice surprise
Right behind the curtain
Ch/ You came into my life for a reason
To help me learn and grow
And where I go I see the sun glow
You came into my life for a reason…
Midpart/ And now I see
You do reveal
My hidden self, my inner reеl
Reminding me of my true aim
You’re bringing sense to what I am
Ch/ You came into my life for a reason
To help me learn and grow
And where I go I see the sun glow (x3)
Music and lyrics by Milen Vrabevski, MD
Arrangement: Milen Vrabevski, MD, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Lead vocals: Joseph Williams
Vs1/ And today I hold the love inside…
The time has come, it’s really me who makes the judgment
It’s a kind of fate… It takes no sides
What’s left to say?
I’m done
Ch/ I fly over dreams I keep inside…
Longing to live my life…
On the way to higher ground…
The smile I wore
Was a reflection of my will to take no more
Vs2/ I fear I need no demands today
The choice of life’s to give it all you’ve got, аs I say
Assuming nothing, standing strong back on the ground
Of bricks they have thrown at you
Ch/ I fly over dreams I keep inside…
Longing to live my life…
On the way to higher ground…
The smile I wore
Was a reflection of my will to take no more
Ch/ I fly over dreams I keep inside…
Longing to live my life…
On the way to higher ground…
The smile I wore
Was a reflection of my will to take no more
MidPart 1/ I try to conduct my own band
See where I stand… I turn my back on all…
Ch/ I fly over dreams I keep inside…
Longing to live my life…
On the way to higher ground…
The smile I wore
Was a reflection of my will to take no more
Music and lyrics by Milen Vrabevski, MD
Arrangement: Milen Vrabevski, MD, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Lead vocals: Joseph Williams
Vs1/ Red lights ready to glow
A symphony on fire
Bright white laser beams
Ignites electric power
Vs2/ The crowd screams hear them roar
Hot sweat burning in your soul
Shooting flames getting higher and higher
In overdrive it’s your desire
Ch/ Lightning strikes the fire
Its my soul’s desire
The sound will take you higher
My heart beats Rock ‘n’ Roll
Vs3/ Midnight satisfaction
Dance the night away
Can’t you feel it your bodies shaking
Passion bites through your veins
Vs4/ Get the rush a turbo strike
Can’t you feel it in your bones
Hit the sky it’s your temptation
Moving up to touch the sky
Ch/ Lightning strikes the fire
Its my soul’s desire
The sound will take you higher
My heart beats Rock ‘n’ Roll
Ch/ Lightning strikes the fire
Its my soul’s desire
The sound will take you higher
My heart beats Rock ‘n’ Roll (x2)
Music and lyrics by Carl Sentance
Arrangement: Carl Sentance, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Vocals: Carl Sentance
Vs1/ Dreams of love will re-appear
The skies above may look so clear
Now give me a reason why I should try
It’s hard to reset my mind
Pre-Ch1/ I’m showing my way to you
Won’t make you feel guilty, like I do
And sometimes I’m crying, too…
But that’s nothing new
Ch/ Look, it’s my today
All the way through my last cry again
I’m doing what I can
The way I feel I am
Again, your loving man
Vs2/ Knowing all is my own drive
A trend towards defeating doubt
‘Though giving’s the funniest way of life
Give love and you feel alive
Pre-Ch2/ The blessing, the strong belief,
The firm optimism, faith, relief
Beyond stupid self-esteem
The truth is your theme
Ch/ Look, it’s my today
All the way through my last cry again
I’m doing what I can
The way I feel I am
Again, your loving man
Midpart/ Your feelings show just what you’ve got
Of blessings from above within you
And in your heart, and in your mind
All troubles you’ve been through
The more the beauty, passion, boon
The nicer things you do…
Ch/ Look, it’s my today
All the way through my last cry again
I’m doing what I can
The way I feel I am
Again, your loving man (x2)
Music and lyrics by Milen Vrabevski, MD
Arrangement: Milen Vrabevski, MD, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Lead vocals: Joseph Williams
Preamble/ What do I learn from this
Could it ever be the same again
You pick me up then you bring me down
You tell me everything I’ve heard before
I don’t know how you will survive
Hold on to your dreams
And make it right
Vs1/ Optimistic future dreams
Keep on searching for that life
Better change the way you feel
And climb the mountain till you’re free
Start to fight and you will thrive
Never stop you are the inspiration
Ch1/ When you’re all alone
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t you know?
Closer to the heart
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t let go!
Vs2/ Liberation sets you free
Building something true and bright
Hand in hand well walk this road
Dreams like rivers let them flow
With every breath your hopes unfold
Never stop, you are my inspiration
Ch1/ When you’re all alone
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t you know?
Straight to the heart
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t let go!
MidPart/ It’s getting closer
Paint this journey wide and free
There’s magic waiting
Rise up, stand up
Spread your wings and fly away
Just spread your wings and fly away
Ch/ When you’re all alone
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t you know?
Closer to the heart
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t let go!
Ch/ When you’re all alone
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t you know?
Straight to the heart
Living this way it don’t come easy
No, it don’t come easy
Don’t let go!
Music and lyrics by Carl Sentance
Arrangement: Carl Sentance, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Vocals: Carl Sentance
Stories turn to dust
Fiction’s made to live and die
Runes carved into rust
Like letters fading from the lines
Paper wings reaching for the sun again
Breaking free from the paper and the pen
Names like wax, melting in the heat of flight
Do they fade, or can they burn so bright?
She rose up from the page
A name, once lost between the lines
Now called aloud
Paper wings took flight
The words beneath her inky spine
Now flesh and bone
The story from his dreams
Has now come true
Music and arrangement by Biser Ivanov, Ivo Stefanov
Lyrics by: Angela Rodel
Vocals: Richard Grisman
Vs1/ There’s something more I did find on that piece of ground
Something so sound, there’s no doubt
On these rocky cliffs, my vision’s blown out around
A new phase of mind running out
Ch/ You keep your head up towards the sun…
And your feet on the ground, nowhere to run
Are you willing to find out
What’s your true aim?
It’s not hard to discover
Fire up your flaws
No flame, no game!
Vs2/ People don’t care if you’re standing there, all alone
“Total eclipse of the heart”
The way to shine light is to try what they wouldn’t dare
Caring’s the right place to start
Ch/ You keep your head up towards the sun…
And your feet on the ground, nowhere to run
Are you willing to find out
What’s your true aim?
It’s not hard to discover
Fire up your flaws
No flame, no game!
MidPart/ You’re feeling now
There’s much more ground you’re grasping for
Is this not how
[Set alongside that new door]
You finally reach the upper floor:
Scaling up through hardships [all alone]
That’s what you’re reaching for!
Ch/ You keep your head up towards the sun…
And your feet on the ground, nowhere to run
Are you willing to find out
What’s your true aim?
It’s not hard to discover
Fire up your flaws
No flame, no game!
Vs3/ Yeah, yeah, whatever they say
Attitude’s sharper than talent along the way
Rise up, you bring the new day
Ch/ You keep your head up towards the sun…
And your feet on the ground, nowhere to run
Are you willing to find out
What’s your true aim?
It’s not hard to discover
Fire up your flaws
No flame, no game! (x2)
Music and lyrics by Milen Vrabevski, MD
Arrangement: Milen Vrabevski, MD, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Lead vocals: Joseph Williams
Vs1/ I’ve been wandering through the darkness
Lazy days they fade to grey
Another chance will dance before me
Lightning echoes start to stray
Ch/ Get on my feet now
Feeling no pain
Shake off the shadows
Make them fade away
Vs2/ With every breath I break the silence
Cuz in the end there is no strain (oh yeah!)
Ch/ Get on my feet now
…………………
Kick off the shadows
Make them fade away
Ch/ Get on my feet now
Feeling no pain
Shake off the shadows
Breaking through the rain
MidPart/This makes me feel good with every step I take
Those hazy days will fade away
Stand up and take this ride
And leave it all behind
Get on your feet back on the ground
Let it be your shining star
Ch/ Get on my feet now
…………………
Kick off the shadows
Make them fade away
Ch/ Get on my feet now
Feeling no pain
Shake off the shadows
Breaking through the rain
Music and lyrics by Carl Sentance
Arrangement: Carl Sentance, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Vocals: Carl Sentance
Vs1/ Something I strive to do
Is to renew that feeling
All through my life I found what I knew:
My way’s to believe in you
Vs2/ Something I dare to say
Is ‘No need to talk, I’m scaling
This cliff to the point of hair turning gray
Believing’s the price to pay’
Br/ Net of thought, this meaning that you caught…
Not aiming to be right looks like your creed now
Anywhere you’re thrown the game goes on…
What you do with what you’ve got wins all
Ch/ This whole climb, I’ve been tryin’ to tell you
But inside of you, you knew what to do
Scaling the present, admiring the view
The world looks so true
Vs3/ That’s what I crave to feel
Along with my life so real
My truth is my choice, my attitude counts
No talent there to surmount…
Br/ Net of thought, this meaning that you caught…
Not aiming to be right looks like your creed now
Anywhere you’re thrown the game goes on…
What you do with what you’ve got wins all
Ch/ This whole climb, I’ve been tryin’ to tell you
But inside of you, you knew what to do
Scaling the present, admiring the view
The world looks so true
Ch/ This whole climb, I’ve been tryin’ to tell you
But inside of you, you knew what to do
Scaling the present, admiring the view
The world looks so true
Music and lyrics by Milen Vrabevski, MD
Arrangement: Milen Vrabevski, MD, Ivo Stefanov, Biser Ivanov
Lead vocals: Joseph Williams
Vs1/ Hear me now
I am burning for your loving touch
Hear me, yeah
I am ready for this rush, don’t slow down
Ch/ Flying with you
Into the neon lights
Flying so high, I’ll be
Flying with you
Chasing electric tides
‘Til the night is over
Vs2/ Feel it now
There’s a fire in the way we touch
Say it loud
With this heat we’re never gonna burn out
Ch/ Flying with you
Into the neon lights
Flying so high, I’ll be
Flying with you
Chasing electric tides
‘Til the night is over
Br/ Flying, yeah
Flying with you
Flying now
Flying with you
Ch/ Flying with you
Into the neon lights
Flying so high, I’ll be
Flying with you
Chasing electric tides
‘Til the night is over (x2)
Music and arrangement by Biser Ivanov,Ivo Stefanov
Lyrics: Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata, Angela Rodel
Vocals: Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata
Vs1/ Many days have passed away
since you’ve been gone
Every night I stand here all alone
Living on my own in pain and fear
Seems the only way to go
The flames refuse to die
They’ll always be a part of me
I’ve lost deep in your eyes
Ch/ Will I ever fall in love
Trying to release the pain
Cuz I’ll never see your face again
Will I ever fall in love again?
Vs2/ Waiting for your call
I try to lose my memories
For the days when our love began
Now I realize that silence is the only friend of mine
Painfully the time goes by
Deep inside I know my heart is always
Looking for your eyes
Ch/ Will I ever fall in love
Trying to release the pain
Cuz I’ll never see your face again
Will I ever fall in love again?
Br/ I know I have strength
To find you in the crowd
To look you in the eyes
And tell the world my love will never die
Ch/ Will I ever fall in love
Trying to release the pain
Cuz I’ll never see your face again
Will I ever fall in love again? (x2)
Will I ever fall in love again?
Music and arrangement by: Biser Ivanov, Ivo Stefanov
Lyrics: Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata, Angela Rodel
Vocals: Richard Grisman
Vs1/ Call me back tomorrow
You’re the only real thing I’ve ever seen
Banish all my sorrow
When you’re close to me
Pre-chorus/ All the stars are shining bright
In every moment I reach you
All the stars they glow for us
They’re bringing back love’s truth
Ch/ Don’t stop laughing it makes me remember, yeah
Every bit of the moments we spent together
Keep on laughing, you’re making me whole again
The prettiest way I ever knew
Vs2/ Come on back tomorrow
You’re the only real thing I’ll ever need
There’s no chance for sorrow
When you’re here with me
Pre-chorus/ All the stars are shining bright
In every moment I reach you
All the stars they glow for us
They’re bringing back love’s truth
Ch/ Don’t stop laughing it makes me remember, yeah
Every bit of the moments we spent together
Keep on laughing, you’re making me whole again
The prettiest way I ever knew
Ch/ Don’t stop laughing it makes me remember, yeah
Every bit of the moments we spent together
Keep on laughing, you’re making me whole again
The prettiest way I ever knew (x2)
Music and arrangement by: Biser Ivanov, Ivo Stefanov
Lyrics: Angela Rodel
Vocals: Richard Grisman, Slavin Slavchev
Vs1/ You and me
In one room, yeah
Living in a dream
Fading out from the world
Life was just a game
Between four white walls
Till the winds and fog
Blew in twilight’s smog
Pre-chorus/ Shadows rise
But it’s not night
Ch/Can we see the bright stars shine
Are these wild dreams yours or mine
Even through a burned-out sky
How high can our hearts fly?
Vs2/ You know it’s true
I’d fly through time back to you
To that little room
Wrapped up in midnight blue
Never put out
The flame burning in my heart
Carrying our spark
Even in nights so dark
Pre-chorus/ Before the light fades
I need you to say:
Ch/Can we see the bright stars shine
Are these wild dreams yours or mine
Even through a burned-out sky
How high can our hearts fly?
Br/ Bright stars are blazing in dark skies
Dreams are raging again in your eyes
In walls so paper-thin
Till the storm rolled in
Dimming light within
Ch/Can we see the bright stars shine
Are these wild dreams yours or mine
Even through a burned-out sky
How high can our hearts fly?
Outro/ [Can we see the bright stars shine]
Bright stars are blazing in dark skies
Even through a burned-out sky
[Can we see the bright stars shine]
Dreams are raging again in your eyes
Music by Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata
Lyrics: Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata, Angela Rodel
Arrangement: Biser Ivanov, Ivo Stefanov, Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata
Vocals: Borislav Mudolov-Kosatkata