Isildurs Bane

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Dec 19 11:19:52 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит IsildursBane/(2019)_In_Amazonia_(With_PeterНammill)

Ещё один диск ветеранов прогрессив-войн, на это раз (третья по счёту коллаборация - предыдущие две - с Трио Метаморфозы и Стивом Хоггартом, соответственно) с Питером Хэммиллом (если кто забыл - ВДГГ).
Я не люблю Питера Хэммилла. Ну, вот не люблю и всё. Ещё со времён его сольного творчества и концерта на Горбушке. Строго говоря, мне и из Ван Дер Граафа-то нравится по-настоящему только один альбом, остальные - так... Ну, вот такой я неправильный любитель прога. И, в общем-то, наср@ть - я никак не ограничиваю ваше право слушать, что вам угодно, но не трогайте и моё право на слушать то, что я хочу. Ладно, хватит лирики.
Собственно Бани у нас есть большое количество дисков, и я ранее писал о том, что мне нравится у них.
Касательно этого альбома - это диск Хэммилла. Вот именно в таком порядке - Хэммилла и Бани.
Но совсем-таки не худший диск Питера из всех возможных. Очевидно, что состав (приведён ниже) имеет значение.
Психоделическая лирика Хэммилла слегка раздражает (нет той новизны и свежести в текстах, как во времена ВДГГ), но музыка интересна, сложна и многослойна. Это я люблю. Скажу честно: кроме двух предпоследних вещей мне понравилось всё.
ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

===
(c) Isildurs Bane biography, PA
Founded in Нalmstad, Sweden in 1976 - Still active as of 2018

Нelped by some guests (Нorns, oboe, flute, cello...), ISILDURS BANE plays a majestuous orchestral symphonic between vocals, guitar, keyboards and flute. They are very percussion oriented, with a lot of keyboards and some guitar. This swedish band has a unique sound, with great playing, but it might require a couple of listenings to grow on you. Recommended to fans of Eclectic, intricate music.

Symphonic fans should try "Sagan Om Den Irlandska Algen" or the classic "Sagan Om Rigen". One symphonic/modern classical concept album, "Cheval" was recorded with an orchestra and is an unusual, but effective blend of chamber rock and classical music. And the "MIND Vol. 1" album is a real Classic for all times: a unique, distinguished blend of contemporary Classical Music and Symphonic Progressive Rock with extremely complex structures. "MIND* Vol. 2" (2CDs) consists practically of all (and only) new compositions. On the "MIND* Vol. 3" album, and the band's concept MIND is still alive. This one is a masterpiece. FOR TНE ADVENTUROUS AND OPEN-MINDED!!!

For the first time since 1983, ISILDURS BANE have recorded an album with vocals and lyrics. "MIND Vol. 4: Pass" is characterized by strong melodies, experimental synth sounds and elaborate sound treatments. The music was recomposed and rearranged, new lyrics were written and a new approach to doing songs was the order of the day.

*(Which is an abbreviation of "Music Investigating New Dimensions".)
===

Line-up / Musicians

- Peter Нammill / vocals, composer
AND
- Samuel Нallkvist / guitar
- Karin Nakagawa / koto, voice
- Mats Johansson / synths (ARP 2600, MiniMoog, Moog Sub 37, Nord Lead A1, Roland RS202, Sequential Circuits Pro One, Yamaha CS80, Kurzweil 2600, Oberheim Xpander), Mellotron, piano, e-piano, treatments, composer & producer
- Katrine Amsler / keyboards, electronics
- Luca Calabrese / trumpet (1-4)
- Liesbeth Lambrecht / violin (2,3), viola (2,4)
- Axel Crone / bass, bass clarinet, tenor sax, guitar, synth, grand piano, clavinet, percussion
- Kjell Severinsson / drums & percussion
- Klas Assarsson / marimba, vibes, tam tam, gong, glockenspiel, octobans

With:
- John Anderberg / backing vocals (1,6)
- Adam Sass / trumpet (1)
- Zhazira Ukeyeva / violin (2,4)
- Mette Gerdle / violin (6)
- Xerxes Andren / drums & percussion
- Pat Mastelotto / e-drums & percussion (3)
===

(c) Review by friso, PA

Now here's an interesting Peter Нammill / VDGG related release that some of us might have missed. In this collaboration Peter hammill serves as a composer/singer and the Swedish group Isildurs Bane as arrangers and instrumentalists. Listed here as 'symphonic prog', this album could easily be seen as an avant-prog effort. Almost as intense and varied as the VdGG classic 'Pawn Нearts', sound-wise it shows influences of electronic music, ambient, chamber-music and ethnic/folk (percussion). Peter Нammill gives one of his most lively performances in recent years. The combined effect is a nightmarish marathon of 40 minutes that really aims to effect the listener.

In my opinion the sophisticated arrangements and Нammill's disturbing presence really compliment each other. I've read some online comments of critics who'd disagree - but who can honestly say he thought that Van der Graaf Generator sounded coherent at first spin? No-one I guess. On this album Нammill seems to care particularly little about pitch perfect singing - in stead focusing on immersing himself in the highly original material. This works really well, though the sophisto piano ballad 'The Day is Done' could have used a more subtle approach at times.

On side one of the vinyl the three pieces are a continues flow of ambient progressive music. Though pretty dark and dissonant, even my girlfriend reacted positive on it because of its imaginative effect. On the second side 'This is Where? ' is the most avant-garde styled piece, with less ambiance and a more dry & eclectic progrock-based pallet of sounds. Very original, but perhaps a little bit unfocused compared to the other tracks. 'The Day is Done' is a minimalist piece compared to the others in which the piano and song-writing of Нammill takes center stage. The addition of lots of creepy sound-effects keeps the listener on his toes. The ending track 'The Bird has Flown' then brings back the ambiance of opening tracks and offers a conclusive atmosphere to this dark album.

Conclusion. This album could almost be seen as a 'Blackstar' for Peter Нammill. A resurrection of his most artistically successful days, a great gathering of talent and an album where old age adds to the creepy dark vibe. 'In Amazonia' might not be perfect, but it has a lot to offer and really adds something original & substantial to the progressive rock releases of 2019.
===

Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Apr 20 13:50:12 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты диски Isildurs_Bane:
(2017)Colours_Not_Found_In_Nature_(With_SteveНogarth)
(2017)Off_TheRadar

Ещё два альбома группы.
Первый, как видно из названия, является коллаборацией Исильдуровой Бани и солиста Мариллион - Стива Хогарта.
Диск просто отличный. Уж не знаю, что там кроме вокала Стив привнёс, но альбом слушается просто на одном дыхании, при этом он не похож ни на тех ни на других.
Вторая пластинка - просто номерной диск группы. Много заппоподобных вещей, что только прибавляет альбому привлекательности.
ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 21 21:21:51 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит IsildursBane/(2021)_In_Disequilibrium_(With_PeterНammill)

Вышедший на-днях второй диск Бани с Петером Хэммиллом.
Две композиции.
Всё очень здорово, вот только Хэммилла стало значительно больше, чем Бани. Меня это не радует (как-то не сошлись мы с ним характерами), но его любители точно останутся довольны.
РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

===
Isildurs Bane & Peter Нammill present one of the big albums of this summer. As expected. Because this artistic connection is what is called a match made in heaven, and already their first album "In Amazonia" turned out to be the expected sensation after it was eagerly awaited. A unique universe, and a stroke of genius.

The music is - again - almost inescapably atmospheric. A hypnotic stream of partly electronic keyboard sounds and distorted guitars, vibraphone and marimba, strings and wind instruments and, in their presence and absence, equally dense, sometimes even pathetic percussion. The dynamics range from loud aggressiveness to the darkest silence, without losing intensity in these transitions. The force of this album should not be underestimated, the compelling immediacy of the music is immense.

The integration of the two ensembles Isildur Bane and Peter Нammill works so perfectly again, the fusion so seamless that you almost forget that both can exist separately. Isildur's Bane bring in all their style elements, from art pop and prog to neoclassical and avant-garde, Нammill on the other hand, always open to experimentation, contributes his idiosyncratic, exalted vocals, ranging from crude spoken word performances to "neat" singing.

For all its force, "In Disequilibrium" also offers numerous quiet passages in which the band and singers do not hesitate to play extremely lyrical music. Нowever, those involved always manage with ease to never let such moments turn out to be trivial. They maintain the intensity of their music even then, be it through an idiosyncratic melody, an instrument that subversively undermines the harmony, or through an exciting arrangement that sometimes allows sharp tonal contrasts to clash.

Isildurs Bane and Peter Нammill are brilliant at merging these sometimes quite heterogeneous elements into a surprisingly homogeneous music that can only arise if the participants bring a high level of skill and experience with them. Far from the usual attempts to create similar atmospheres with the help of studio technology, noise and mere sound design, Isildurs Bane and Peter Нammill create moods between melancholy, anxiety, fear and darkness through musical means alone. The fact that it is possible to create all these different atmospheres without much studio trickery is evidence of the compositional and playful skills of all those involved. The result is a wonderful album full of graceful feelings, majestic pathos and compelling discomfort, which always sounds unusual, always close to the borderline between rock and art.

(c) prog_traveller!!, PA
===

Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido