AREKNAMÉS are a new Italian band that will bring you straight back into the magical 70's. Strongly influenced by both VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and the Canterbury scene, they are nevertheless free of any clichés and successfully manage to mix those influences with their own very personal style. They are masterminded by composer, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Michele Epifani who handles the Hammond organ, piano, mellotron, synths, harpsichord, acoustic and electric guitars as well as the recorder. Bassist Piero Ranalli and drummer Mino Vitelli, who plays various ethnic percussions (djembé, Arabian tabla and spring drum) complete the roster.
Their first album, released by Black Widow in 2003, is made up of six fairly long tracks that feature a lot of mellotron, which plays a prominent role in the arrangements along with some heavy guitar riffs. All tracks feature many dramatic mood changes, constantly alternating between melodic parts and furious passages, between classic symphonic rock and outright 'doom' prog, never staying long in anyone spot. It is a well-balanced and consistent album, featuring a good vocalist (who sounds much like Peter Hammill) and great musicians who obviously concentrate on creativity rather than a show of technical prowess. A second and more acclaimed album was released in 2006 with a live album in 2007. Their second album "love hate round trip" won an award at ProgAwards 2006-which is where the displayed photo is from. A third album is currently in the works.
If you enjoy the dark or heavy style of VDGG and their likes, but can do without the ultra speed factor, you'll certainly enjoy ARKENAMÉS.
Lise (HIBOU), CANADA
1. The skeletal landscape of the world (6:42)
2. Deceit (10:15)
3. Outcast (4:04)
4. La chambre (7:26)
5. Snails (7:31)
6. Yet I must be something (5:15)
7. Ignis fatuus (11:22)
8. Stray thoughts from a crossroad (7:24)
9. A grotesque gift (1:23)
10. Someone lies here (4:43)
11. Pendulum arc (6:49)
12. The web of years (5:08)
1 Antoine (2) & Les Problèmes - Contre-Elucubrations Problèmatiques
2 Les Problèmes - Des Lendemains
3 Les Problèmes - Pop Jerk
4 Les Problèmes - Ce Monde Existe
5 Les Problèmes - Dodécaphonie
6 Les Problèmes - Je Ne Vois Rien
7 Les Problèmes - Ballade A Luis Rego, Prisonnier Politique
8 Les Problèmes - On S'En Fou
9 Les Problèmes - Pas Adieu
10 Les Problèmes - S'Il Boude
11 Les Problèmes - Si C'Est La Nuit
12 Les Problèmes - Il Suffirait D'Un Rien
13 Les Problèmes - Passe Ton Chemin
14 Antoine (2) - Je Dis Ce Que Je Pense Et Je Vis Comme Je Veux
15 Les Charlots - Je Dis N'Importe Quoi, Je Fais Tout Ce Qu'On Me Dit
16 Les Charlots - Quand Je Pense A Toi (Instrumental)
17 Les Charlots - Psychose (Toujours) (Instrumental)
18 Les Charlots - Pas De Problèmes (Instrumental)
19 Les Charlots - Hey Max (Hey Joe)
20 Les Charlots - Paulette, La Reine Des Paupiettes
This is a crossover band which transcends the psychedelic and progressive era. The band was formed by John (Du) Cann, who'd earlier been in The Attack. Originals of the album are not easily come by but you'll notice it has been re-issued. The album's finest moments are Day Of The Change, which features some fine discordant guitar work and great vocals, and Return To Sanity, which opens with a guitar-driven instrumental passage similar to Mars from Holst's Planets suite and contains some fine guitar work throughout. By contrast there are a couple of more mellow, laid back numbers of note - And Now The Sun Shines and The Reason - but most of the remaining tracks are expendable.
After they disbanded at the end of 1969 Cann went on to form Atomic Rooster playing on their Tomorrow Night and Devil's Answer 45. He later formed Hard Stuff. Hawksworth formed Fuzzy Duck and was later in Ten Years Later with Alvin Lee. John Cann used his original name John Du Cann for a minor hit, Don't Be A Dummy in 1979 and later was involved in reforming Atomic Rooster with organist Vincent Crane.
Abacus was founded in 1971 and publishing 4 LPs on the Polydor label before breaking up in 1976 due to "musical differences". Some members regrouped again for 1982's Carribean Sun on the EMI label before once again splitting up.
Their 2001 release Fire Behind Bars released by Musea features multi-instrumentist Jürgen Wimpelberg who sings and plays keyboards and guitars. This album releases some of Abacus' unpublished works with some guest musicians. The previous GEPR entry on these guys said, "I assume that they only border the progressive genre." Judging only from Fire Behind Bars, I would say that this is a bit unfair, but I also can see why the reviewer would say that.
The music composition itself is oriented towards pop stylings, while the heavily symphonic orchestration and soloing are quite progressive in nature. Some of the songs, particularly "Avalanche Part 1", reminds me of an arena rock band like Styx, while others are in a more AOR ballad style like Toto or maybe even some Steely Dan. Several of the songs get so sappy (especially "Helping-hand-song" and "Loser") that I think they might be Barry Manilow pieces being played by a progressive band.
On the other hand, Wimpelberg is clearly a Keith Emerson fan ... the solos in "Don't Look Back" clearly sound like Emerson's style in both the organ and synthesizer soloing, while "Avalanche Part 2" might be fairly described as an ELP homage (or ripoff depending on your outlook), with organ and synthesizer phrases that are clearly quotes from Tarkus and ELP's concert renditions of "Peter Gunn". The ending even features a honky tonk piano similar to the bar room brawl sequence in "Benny the Bouncer" or "Bitch's Crystal".
From what I've already said, you may infer that I didn't like the album ... but that's not so. Actually, I quite enjoyed it. It's certainly not the pinnacle of progressive experimentation, but I actually enjoy listening to Styx in small doses too, so of course I thought this was a fun album, especially with the ELP style keyboards to spice things up. If you aren't too puritan about your prog, give this album of symphonic anthems a try. -- Fred Trafton
2. Dronsz (Rahn) (2:41)
3. Es färbt sich die Wiese grün (Karges/Karges) (9:04)
4. Impressionen (Rahn) (10:00)
5. Wer Schmetterlinge lachen hört (Rahn/Karges) (9:14)
6. Wunderschätze (Job/Originaltext von Novalis um 1798, lyrics adapted by D. Job) (11:33)
7. Sommerabend (Job/Rahn/Reihel): (19:19)
...a) Wetterleuchten
...b) Am Strand
...c) Der Traum
...d) Ein neuer Tag
...e) Ins Licht
Bonus tracks (recorded live at the Winterhuder Fährhaus in December 1978): 8. Wenn nicht mehr Zahlen und Figuren (Mühlböck/Novalis, lyrics adapted by F. Mühlböck) (3:07)
9. Astralis (Mühlböck/Novalis, lyrics adapted by F. Mühlböck) (8:58)
10. Irgendwo, Irgendwan (D. Job/D. Job) (4:28)
01. Called Her Name 4:10
02. Fool About You 2:48
03. Hard Living 2:59
04. Goin' Down 4:02
05. Razamanaz 4:15
06. Broken Down Angel 4:03
07. Night Woman 3:25
08. Too Bad Too Sad 2:50
09. Turn On Your Receiver 3:37
10. Bad Bad Boy 3:35
11. Shapes Of Things 6:18
12. Silver Dollar Forger 5:36
13. Glad When You're Gone 4:17
14. Jet Lag 6:40
cd2:
01. Dear John 3:51
02. Morning Dew 6:48
03. Vigilante Man 5:33
04. Paper Sun 5:17
05. Woke Up This Morning - Boogie 9:46
06. Love Hurts 4:21
07. Expect No Mercy 3:44
08. This Flight Tonight 3:42
09. Whiskey Drinking Woman - Hair Of The Dog 7:15
10. Teenage Nervous Breakdown 3:40
11. Road Ladies 7:05
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