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Arabs in Aspic
OriginTrondheim, Norway
GenresProgressive rock
Years active1997–2004, 2006-present
LabelsArion, Audio Resources
MembersJostein Smeby, Stig Arve Jørgensen, Eskil Nyhu, Erik Paulsen, Alessandro Elide
Websitewww.arabsinaspic.org

| Arabs in Aspic, at times also Arabs in Aspic II, is a progressive rock band formed in 1997. They are considered an institution of Norwegian retro-prog.

History

Formed in 1997 as a Black Sabbath cover band, Arabs in Aspic did not have a continuously cultivated name in their early days.[1] Lead guitarist and vocalist Jostein Smeby played with Tommy Ingebrigtsen, who contributed as a rhythm guitarist and theremin player, in various cover bands with a focus on metal. To form the band, the duo enlisted Hammond organ player Magnar Krutvik and drummer Eskil Nyhus, as well as his brother, bassist Terje Nyhus.[2] Due to the fact that Ingebrigtsen was popular as a world champion in ski jumping and the other founding members also practised the sport, the band was at times considered a ski jumping band;[3] an attribution from which the band largely emancipated itself.

In the beginning, the group acted with various names. It wasn't until one gig that the name Arabs in Aspic was established. Out of affection for the King Crimson album Larks' Tongues in Aspic, the members tried to "put something else in 'Aspic'." By chance, the band discovered a book about cricket called Arabs in Aspic on eBay.[1]

We thought it was such a surreal title that we just had to steal it. The title as a bandname also suited our vulgar sound at that time.

— Jostein Smeby in Jürgen Meurer (Betreutes Proggen): Jostein Smeby and Erik Paulsen explain the current development of Arabs in Aspic

After the debut release, the group was joined by Stig Arve Jørgensen. He contributed background vocals and took over the Hammond organ after Krutvik switched to acoustic guitar and synthesiser. After the release of the album Far Out in Aradabia, the band's career ended for the time being.[4]

In 2006, Smeby, Eskil Nyhus and Jørgensen joined forces with new bassist Erik Paulsen to form Arabs in Aspic II. Several demos were recorded in the following years until the band recorded the album Strange Frame of Mind in the studio of TNT guitarist Ronni LeTekro in 2009. Mastered by Tommy Hansen at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark, the album received critical acclaim and before its release as an LP in 2012, the band decided to drop the II in the band's name and once again operate as Arabs in Aspic. As of 2019, long-time live and session percussionist Alessandro Elide became a permanent member of Arabs in Aspic. [2]

Work and Impact

Discography

Full Length

  • 2003: Progeria (Børse Music)
  • 2004: Far Out In Aradabia (Børse Music)
  • 2010: Strange Frame of Mind (Pancromatic)
  • 2013: Picture in a Dream (Black Widow Records)
  • 2015: Victim Of Your Father’s Agony (Black Widow Records)
  • 2017: Syndenes Magi (Apollon Records: PROG/Børse Music)
  • 2020: Madness & Magic (Album, Karisma Records)

Live

  • 2018: Live At Avantgarden (Apollon Records: PROG/Børse Music)

Compilations

  • 2011: Progeria / Far Out In Aradabia (Pancromatic)
  • 2021: I – III (Karisma Records/Børse Music)

Singles & EPs

  • 2015: Sad Without You/Italian Class/TV 3 (Crispin Glover Records)
  • 2015: Prevail To Fail / Pictures In A Dream (feat. Rune Sundby, Crispin Glover Records)
  • 2018: De Dødes Tjern / Step Into The Fire (Apollon Records: PROG/Børse Music)

Smeby wrote most of the music from the beginning. In addition to Black Sabbath, he cited stoner rock and classical modernism as influences, while the other band members brought in influences from progressive rock, inspired by performers such as Genesis, King Crimson and Yes, as well as music of the Balkans, fusion, jazz and more. The different approaches form the musical foundation of the band.[1]

Style

As a result of their influences, the group combines "typical Scandinavian, slightly elegiac Retroprog with a good portion of hard rock."[5] However, the band varied their style with the break in the band's history. While the first two releases leaned more towards hard rock and psychedelic rock, those after the group's reunion leaned more towards progressive rock.

With its closeness to Hawkwind, older Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, the debut already corresponds to this style and combines "[d]üster booming guitars and a lot of Hammond organ".[6] The influence of psychedelic rock is even more clearly served on the debut than on later releases.

Accasionally, the otherwise rather melodious music is interrupted by heavy guitar riffs, which provide a good shot of harshness and thus a nice contrast. But the guitar also likes to make extended psychedelic excursions, which is not found on later albums of the band in this form. This psychedelic influence is further enhanced by the use of the organ, which instead of wild solos focuses on psychedelic wafting, which can turn out quite powerful.

On the subsequent, and a year later released, Far Out In Aradabia the style "was essentially continued. However, on Far Out In Aradabia the hard rock side of the band is emphasised more, the heavy guitar riffs crashing here even more often than on the debut."[7] Also added was more independence and a more far-reaching creativity. [8] Musically, the band remains connected to the 1970s,[9] and Far Out In Aradabia is stylistically so close to Progeria in time that reviewers occasionally suspect "that both albums were recorded in one session."[10]

There are sounds throughout the album that could have come from a 1972 rock record. Loud and quiet, Hammond and Mellotron, acoustic guitars and melodies to revel in.

With the reunion album Strange Frame of Mind, released in 2010, the group took a musical turn towards "likeable, completely old-fashioned" progressive rock,[11] with "fat sound and impressive harmonies."[12]

With the reunion album Strange Frame of Mind, released in 2010, the group took a musical turn towards "likeable, perfectly old-fashioned" progressive rock,[11] with "fat sound and impressive harmonies. "[12] Accordingly, Strange Frame of Mind was judged to be "the beginning of their modern era" in terms of the group's stylistic development.[8] Without entirely discarding psychedelic rock, blues rock and hard rock influences to do so, the band increasingly embraced elements of progressive rock. [10] Keyboard playing proved to be a prominent part of this change.[8] The development is sometimes associated with the addition of Stig Arve Jørgensen.[10] Other developments included an expansion of the distinct "background vocals[s] in more sophisticated arrangements and the more frequent use of odd metre in the music. "[8] "Ironically," says Jon Davis, the loss of the second guitarist led to more variety in guitar playing, as Smeby used more different tones and techniques.[8]

Members

Current members

  • Guitar, Vocals: Jostein Smeby
  • Hammond, Background-Vocals: Stig Arve Jørgensen
  • Drums: Eskil Nyhus
  • Bass: Erik Paulsen
  • Percussion: Alessandro Elide

Former Members

  • Guitar, Theremin: Tommy Ingebrigtsen
  • Hammond, Acoustic-Guitar, Synthesizers: Magnar Krutvik
  • Bass: Terje Nyhus

Einzelnachweise

<references responsive > [4] [2] [1] [5]

  1. ^ a b c d e Jürgen Meurer. "Jostein Smeby and Erik Paulsen explain the current development of Arabs in Aspic". Betreutes Proggen. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  2. ^ a b c Arabs in Aspic. "Bio". Arabs in Aspic. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference BlauFrameII was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b rdtprog. "Arabs in Aspic". Progarchives. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  5. ^ a b c Jochen Rindfrey. "Arabs in Aspic: Progeria". Babyblaue Seiten. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference VKProgeria was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference BlauFar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference ExFar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference AnsichFar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference SKProgeria was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BlauPic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BackVictim was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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