“Tintagel”, the second track from Kayak’s 1981 concept album Merlin, is a beautifully atmospheric interlude that encapsulates the romantic mystique and mythological grandeur of Arthurian legend. As part of an album centered around the enigmatic figure of Merlin, “Tintagel” serves as a reflective, almost cinematic moment - offering listeners a pause for contemplation amid the album’s dramatic narrative arc.
Named after the legendary Cornish castle ("Tintagel Castle, stronghold of king and refugee /
Untouched by battles, armour of rocks high above the sea / Silhouette sculptured by men and the winds / Impregnable fortress, where legend begins") that is said to be King Arthur’s birthplace, “Tintagel” opens with a gentle, almost reverent tone. A flowing keyboard melody, rich in pastoral textures, carries the listener into a realm that feels timeless and windswept. Ton Scherpenzeel’s keyboard work shines here - lush, evocative, and steeped in a kind of melancholic majesty that recalls both the sea-battered cliffs of the real Tintagel and the crumbling ideals of chivalry and magic.
Named after the legendary Cornish castle ("Tintagel Castle, stronghold of king and refugee /
Untouched by battles, armour of rocks high above the sea / Silhouette sculptured by men and the winds / Impregnable fortress, where legend begins") that is said to be King Arthur’s birthplace, “Tintagel” opens with a gentle, almost reverent tone. A flowing keyboard melody, rich in pastoral textures, carries the listener into a realm that feels timeless and windswept. Ton Scherpenzeel’s keyboard work shines here - lush, evocative, and steeped in a kind of melancholic majesty that recalls both the sea-battered cliffs of the real Tintagel and the crumbling ideals of chivalry and magic.
The story line is brief, describing how Merlin welcomes the pregnant Igraine to the castle, providing her with a safe place to give birth to Arthur, the future king. It’s a short piece - under three minutes - but its emotional impact is lasting. The composition weaves subtle harmonies with symphonic grace, evoking not only physical landscape but emotional distance: nostalgia, loss, and the ephemeral nature of legend.
Placed strategically in the album’s progression, the song connects the more dramatic rock elements of the album with a sense of timeless mystery, bridging the gap between story and symbolism.
“Tintagel” is a poignant, elegantly understated highlight on Merlin. It’s a testament to Kayak’s musical versatility and Scherpenzeel’s compositional sensitivity. More than just a transition, it’s a haunting sonic postcard from the mists of myth - one that lingers long after the album has moved on.
Placed strategically in the album’s progression, the song connects the more dramatic rock elements of the album with a sense of timeless mystery, bridging the gap between story and symbolism.
“Tintagel” is a poignant, elegantly understated highlight on Merlin. It’s a testament to Kayak’s musical versatility and Scherpenzeel’s compositional sensitivity. More than just a transition, it’s a haunting sonic postcard from the mists of myth - one that lingers long after the album has moved on.