Posts Tagged ‘Norwegian Prog’

DETAILS OF THE FOURTH OF SIX RELEASES FROM THE BACK CATALOGUE OF PROG LEGENDS WHITE WILLOW REVEALED

Posted: October 18, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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WHITE WILLOW fans can look forward to a special Christmas treat this year when Karisma Records releases another album from its planned re-issue of the entire back catalogue of the legendary Norwegian Prog Rock pioneers.

This time it is the band’s fourth full-length album “Storm Season”, which was originally released in 2004 and was the first WHITE WILLOW album to sell over 10,000 copies.  Compared to their earlier releases, it marked a bold musical shift for WHITE WILLOW,  taking, as it does, a heavier, more metallic direction.  Blending their classical Prog and Folk Rock roots with a heavier, more streamlined side, “Storm Season” stands as WHITE WILLOWS’ most direct and impactful musical statement to date.

It is also very aptly named, because “Storm Season” was created in the chaotic epicenter of a perfect storm and reflected both the turbulence within the band itself, and of the world around them.   

Indeed, the intensity of the music would nearly tear apart the band, leading to the departure of Sylvia Erichsen who had been their vocalist for several years.  And yet, it was from this very turmoil that a breakthrough would emerge, as guitarist and bandleader Jacob Holm-Lupo explains:

We wanted to create an album that felt like a storm—a reflection of the turmoil in the world with climate change and political unrest, and also within our own lives.

This re-release of “Storm Season” has been meticulously remastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo himself, breathing new life into the album

Although “Storm Season had previously been released in LP format in 2015,  that version featured an alternative cover and has long since sold out, whilst this is the first vinyl release to feature the iconic original cover art.

Set for release on the 13 December, “Storm Season” will be available as a Limited Edition LP in Stormy Marble Vinyl, as well as in CD format.  It can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://whitewillow.bandcamp.com/album/storm-season-remaster
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Track listing for “Storm Season” is as follows:

CD
1. Chemical Sunset
2. Sally Left
3. Endless Science
4. Soulburn
5. Insomnia
6. Storm Season
7. Nightside of Eden

LP
1. Chemical Sunset
2. Sally Left
3. Soulburn
4. Endless Science
5. Insomnia
6. Storm Season
7. Nightside of Eden

WHITE WILLOW was formed in 1992 by guitarist Jacob Holm-Lupo, who at that time was a member of the POLICE/BRUCE HORNSBY-inspired pop band THE ORCHID GARDEN, and keyboard player Jan Tariq Rahman from local jazz-rock/prog rock band DUGGVÅTE DVE.

It was a case of two musicians coming together see if they had any kind of songwriting chemistry, and, whilst sitting on the floor playing acoustic guitar and clavinet, produced the track “Snowfall” which convinced them that they could, indeed, come up with something worthwhile.

WHITE WILLOW’s history, however, was never simple, with members having come and gone over the years  and only Holm-Lupo having remained with the band since its inception, whilst WOBBLER’s Lars Fredrik Frøislie has been a mainstay since 2001.

The band’s  sound too has undergone changes, but it’s safe to say that it is frequently centered around female vocals and an expanded instrumentation that usually includes a host of analogue synthesizers, mellotron, woodwinds and strings, in addition, of course, to traditional rock instrumentation.

Now, exclusively a studio project, WHITE WILLOW is noted for featuring guest appearances from prominent musicians such as  Norway’s guitar hero Hedvig Mollestad, or internationally renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer. 

By the time the re-release project is finished, Karisma Records will have released all six of the following albums:

Ignis Fatuus – 1995 (released Nov 2023)
Ex Tenebris – 1997 (released April 2024)
Sacrament – 2000  (released July 2024)
Storm Season – 2004 (due for release 13  December 2024)
Signal to Noise – 2006
Terminal Twilight – 2011

More information about WHITE WILLOW can be found at https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/

A video for the track “Kansas Regrets” from WHITE WILLOW’s 2011 album “Terminal Twilight” can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHITE WILLOW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/
Holm-Lupo Lydproduksjon:   www.duderanchstudio.com
KARISMA RECORDS
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

DETAILS OF THE THIRD OF SIX RELEASES FROM THE BACK CATALOGUE OF PROG LEGENDS WHITE WILLOW REVEALED

Posted: June 4, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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The year is 2000, and it is the year that Norwegian Prog Legends WHITE WILLOW released what would be the band’s third full-length album.  Titled “Sacrament” the album would undergo a long, painstaking creative process, one that would ensure that the arrangements of each song were inventive, dynamic, and above all, beautiful. 

After a lengthy period of rehearsals at the Norwegian Institute for Scene and Studio, WHITE WILLOW entered Lydkjøkkenet, a brand new studio run by Øystein Vesaas, a talented engineer whose patience and personality were a perfect fit for the band, allowing them time to experiment and try out different variations.

Recorded over an extended period of time, due to the fact that WHITE WILLOW’s founder Jacob Holm-Lupo was holding down a full-time job, the sessions for “Sacrament” would often run from the evening until well into the night. Despite the punishing schedule,  the whole band felt energized and believed totally in the material they were working on, so that instead of feeling onerous, the whole experience is remembered by them as an enjoyable time.

It is creation about which Holm-Lupo says:

“Sacrament” is the first album where I think we did everything really well” 

It was during the making of “Sacrament”, that the Prog scene itself was undergoing a period in which certain elements of the genre were beginning to filter through into mainstream music, which in itself gave WHITE WILLOW somewhat of a motivational boost.  The end result was an album  that not only received glowing reviews world-wide and healthy sales figures, it also received some mainstream recognition.

Now, as part of Karisma Records plans to re-release six albums from WHITE WILLOWS’ back catalogue, “Sacrament” has been  meticulously remastered by Holm-Lupo himself to become the third of the six scheduled releases. 

Set to appear on the 5th July, this will be the first time that “Sacrament” will be released in vinyl format, and, along with the Limited Edition White Vinyl, it will also be available in CD and Digital formats.  

Presented with the classic original cover art, track listing on “Sacrament” is as follows:

1. Anamnesis
2. Paper Moon
3. The Crucible
4. The Last Rose of Summer
5. Gnostalgia
6. The Reach

“Sacrament” is now available to pre-order from:

Smartlink to various services: https://orcd.co/ww-sacrament
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://whitewillow.bandcamp.com/album/sacrament-remaster

WHITE WILLOW was formed in 1992 by guitarist Jacob Holm-Lupo, who at that time was a member of the POLICE/BRUCE HORNSBY-inspired pop band THE ORCHID GARDEN, and keyboard player Jan Tariq Rahman from local jazz-rock/prog rock band DUGGVÅTE DVE.

It was a case of two musicians coming together see if they had any kind of songwriting chemistry, and, whilst sitting on the floor playing acoustic guitar and clavinet, produced the track “Snowfall” which convinced them that they could, indeed, come up with something worthwhile.

WHITE WILLOW’s history, however, was never simple, with members having come and gone over the years  and only Holm-Lupo having remained with the band since its inception, whilst WOBBLER’s Lars Fredrik Frøislie has been a mainstay since 2001.

The band’s  sound too has undergone changes, but it’s safe to say that it is frequently centered around female vocals and an expanded instrumentation that usually includes a host of analogue synthesizers, mellotron, woodwinds and strings, in addition, of course, to traditional rock instrumentation.

Now, exclusively a studio project, WHITE WILLOW is noted for featuring guest appearances from prominent musicians such as  Norway’s guitar hero Hedvig Mollestad, or internationally renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer. 

By the time the re-release project is finished, Karisma Records will have released all six of the following albums:

Ignis Fatuus – 1995 (released Nov 2023)
Ex Tenebris – 1997 (released April 2024)
Sacrament – 2000  (due for release July 2024)
Storm Season – 2004
Signal to Noise – 2006
Terminal Twilight – 2011

More information about WHITE WILLOW can be found at https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/

A video for the track “Kansas Regrets” from WHITE WILLOW’s 2011 album “Terminal Twilight” can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/
Holm-Lupo Lydproduksjon:   www.duderanchstudio.com
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

WOBBLER’S  LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE TEAMS UP WITH MUSEO ROSENBACH’S LEGENDARY VOCALIST STEFANO “LUPO” GALIFI FOR THE RELEASE OF A SPECIAL TRACK

Posted: May 30, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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When WOBBLER’s keyboard player LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE released his debut solo album “Fire Fortellinger” on Karisma records in 2023, he had always had a certain vision in mind for the track “Et sted under himmelhvelvet”, and now, thanks to Karisma Records, that vision is about to become a reality, with the release of the track as a very special single featuring STEFANO “LUPO” GALIFI, the legendary vocalist from the equally legendary Italian Prog band MUSEO ROSENBACH.

FRØISLIE who is himself a huge fan of Italian Prog in general and of MUSEO ROSENBACH in particular,  explains:

When I wrote “Et sted under himmelhvelvet”, I imagined an Italian version in my head with just STEFANO “LUPO” GALIFI’S vocals. Not so surprising, perhaps, since he is one of my my  favourite vocalists. I have loved his slightly raspy, but powerful and soulful vocals, ever since I discovered MUSEO ROSENBACH as a teenager.  

When the opportunity presented itself, I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask him, and it gave me much joy that he was actually willing to sing on this one. Especially since he sings just as well today as he did 50 years ago.  

For me, it was both emotional and surreal to hear a voice I have known and loved throughout much of my life, singing one of my songs.  

Finally, I must thank Sergio Lombardi, who both put me in touch with Stefano, and translated the text into Italian for me. 

 The song “Et sted under himmelhvelvet” itself is a dreamy piece that conjures up images of a Renaissance garden near Florence or Arcadia. But, in fact,  it could be anywhere where it feels good to be. It is partly about travelling to a place and feeling that you have been there before – only to find out that you had ancestors who lived there long ago.

Set for release on the 20th June, the single will only be available as a Limited Edition 10″ Vinyl, strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide, as well as a digital version. 

Side A features STEFANO ‘LUPO’ GALIFI singing “Un Posto Sotto il Cielo”, the Italian language version of “Et sted under himmelhvelvet”,  whilst side B features the original Norwegian version.

The 10″ Vinyl will come with a  single in brown kraft paper sleeve, reminiscent of the good old 78 RPM gramophone records, and is now available to pre-order from:

Smartlink: https://orcd.co/lff-cielo
Bandcamp: https://larsfredrikfroislie.bandcamp.com/album/un-posto-sotto-il-cielo
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Additional Info: https://www.karismarecords.no/blog/2024/05/30/wobblers-lars-fredrik-froislie-teams-up-with-museo-rosenbachs-legendary-vocalist-stefano-lupo-galifi-for-the-release-of-a-special-track/

The Norwegian version of the track “Et sted under himmelhvelvet” from LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE’s  2023 album “Fire Fortellinger”  can be heard below and at Cps://youtu.be/1cVzpXzBLrg?si=sA8MVwCYNNBaAbGK

More information about LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE can be found at https://www.facebook.com/larsfredrikfroislie

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/larsfredrikfroislie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larsfredrikfroislie/
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

PROG ROCKERS AIRBAG RELEASE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: May 10, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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The 14th June 2024 marks the day that Karisma Records will release “The Century of the Self”  the sixth full-length album from AIRBAG, one of the most prominent Prog Rock bands to have emerged from Norway in the last few decades. 

And, in anticipation of that day, the label has released a second single from the album. Titled “Awakening”, this is  what the band had to  say about the track:

“Awakening” is one of those songs that reflects on the band’s past, with strong ties to albums like “Identity” and “All Rights Removed”, whilst at the same time venturing into new sonics and production.  Lyrically, “Awakening” is a message of hope in a time where se seem to stray away from caring for each other and allowing social media to create a destructive diversion.

“Awakening” can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/airbag-awakening

A video for the track “Awakening” by Crystal Media (known for their work with songwriter/producer Steven Wilson, amongst others) can be seen below

“The Century of Self” is an album that stands as a testament to the artistic vision and enduring creativity that AIRBAG bring to their music.  Touching on themes such as cancel culture and the rewriting of personal histories, it is a reflection on modern society’s zeitgeist, and a poignant commentary of today’s world, which is steeped in fear and condemnation. 

Recorded at Subsonic Society, Airbag Studio, and Riis Studio, and expertly produced, mixed, and mastered by Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes, “The Century of Self” features guest appearances by Kristian Hultgren on bass on “Dysphoria” and “Tear it Down”, Ole Michael Bjørndal on  guitar on “Dysphoria”, “Tyrants and Kings” and “Tear it Down” and Simen Valldal Johannessen on keyboards on “Tear it Down”.

With artwork by Asle Tostrup, track listing on “The Century of the Self” is as follows:

01. Dysphoria
02. Tyrants and Kings
03. Awakening
04. Erase
05. Tear It Down

“The Century of the Self” will be released in CD,  Limited  Edition Digisleeve CD and Digital formats, as well as three different LP version -Black Vinyl LP,  Limited Edition Red Vinyl LP and  Limited Edition Black and Red Splatter Vinyl LP.

It is now available to pre-order from:

Bandcamp: https://airbagsound.bandcamp.com/album/century-of-the-self 
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/ 
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/

With this latest album, AIRBAG’s lineup of Asle Tostrup on vocals, keyboards and programming, Henrik Bergan Fossum on drums, and Bjørn Riis on guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals,  lead the listener on a sonic journey through introspection and intensity.

Opening with the track “Dysphoria”, with its mesmerizing depths, “The Century of Self” is filled with the irresistible vocal hooks and virtuoso lead guitar work for which AIRBAG has become synonymous the world-over. 

From the haunting crescendo of “Tyrants and Kings,”  to the introspective balladry of “Awakening” we are led towards the foreboding depths of the single “Erase” that builds from a hypnotic bass line into a powerhouse of heavy refrains, setting the stage for the epic conclusion of “Tear it Down”, a 14 minute opus that goes from serene moments of reflection towards the heaviest musical landscapes AIRBAG has ever produced.

AIRBAG has been confirmed to play three shows in Poland in October and  two shows in the Netherlands  in November. More shows will be announced in due course

Poland
17 Oct:  Stary Manez, Gdansk
18 Oct:  Klub Progresja, Warsaw
18 Oct:  Klub Kwadrat, Krakow

Netherlands
01 Nov:  De Cacaofabriek, Helmond
02 Nov:  Poppodium, Boerderij

More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website at http://www.airbagsound.com/  or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound

A lyric video for the track “Erase” can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AIRBAG
Website: www.airbagsound.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound
YouTube: www.youtube.com/airbagsound
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airbagsound/
Airbag Booking: bjorn@airbag.no
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

KARISMA RECORDS RELEASES DETAILS, VIDEO AND SINGLE FROM FOURTH FULL-LENGTH SOLO ALBUM FROM AIRBAG  CO-FOUNDER BJØRN RIIS

Posted: January 14, 2022 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Aside from being one of the founder members, lead guitarist, producer and main songwriter of one of Norway’s most successful  Prog bands AIRBAG, BJORN RIIS is also becoming a prolific solo artist, with his fourth full-length album set for release on Karisma Records on the 8th April.

Titled “Everything to Everyone”, the album contains six epic new tracks that deal with human emotions and the fear of losing oneself in the constant effort to meet every, often perceived, expectation, as Bjørn explains:

I was inspired by Dante’s Inferno when I started to write. A bit pretentious perhaps, but I’ve always been fascinated by that very personal journey and the search for some kind of piece or redemption, while being both mentored and hurt along the way. Musically, I wanted to take the listener on that journey, experiencing both hope and anxiety.

As a taste of what fans can expect from “Everything to Everyone”, Karisma Records have today released a single and video of the title track, about which Bjørn has this to say:

“Everything to Everyone” goes way back. It’s one of those songs that never got finished but it’s always been in the back of my head. The lyrics are about losing yourself in the struggle to live up to expectations. Either one’s own or those of others. I think we all can relate to that in one way or the other.

I’m very happy with how it turned out! It’s a dramatic piece and I’ve tried to allow the music to have a story in itself. Added to which are Mimmi Tamba’s amazing vocals, Simen Valldal Johannessen’s beautiful piano and Henrik Bergan Fossum’s powerful drumming.

The single “Everything to Everyone” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at https://link.karismarecords.no/Bjorn-Riis_Everything-To-Everyone_Single

Whilst the video, by Anne-Marie Forker, can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/sYccgTvoR00

For “Everything to Everyone”, Bjørn has, once again, revisited his highly successful partnership with long-time collaborator Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes, who, as well as co-producing the album with Bjørn, also handled the engineering and mixing. Mastering was carried out by Jacob Holm-Lupo (WHITE WILLOW and THE OPIUM CARTEL). 

In addition to Bjørn’s vocals and celebrated guitar playing, “Everything to Everyone” also features guest appearances from Henrik Bergan Fossum (AIRBAG), Kristian Hultgren (WOBBLER), Simen Valldal Johannessen (OAK) and Norwegian singer/songwriter MIMMI TAMBA. 

Karisma Records plans to release “Everything to Everyone” in four different versions. Aside from the normal LP version, the vinyl format will also be available as a Limited Edition White/Black Splatter LP, whilst the CD format will be available both as a standard CD as well as a Limited Edition Digi Sleeve version which will include two bonus tracks comprising an alternative version of the title track, and the 2020 stand-alone digital single “Desolate Place”.

With cover photo by Anne-Marie Forker and design by Asle Tostrup, track listing on “Everything to Everyone” is as follows:

1. Run
2. Lay Me Down
3. The Siren
4. Every Second Every Hour
5. Descending
6. Everything to Everyone
Digisleeve CD bonus tracks:
7. Everything to Everyone (Alternative version)
8. Desolate Place

“Everything to Everyone” is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/kar199-bjorn-riis-everything-to-everyone/ 
Band Camp: https://bjornriis.bandcamp.com/album/everything-to-everyone 
North American Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/band/bjorn-riis 

Now a much-respected guitarist within the musical community, Bjørn ‘s  interest in music began whilst still a teenager, at a time when guitar-led bands were at their height and were spearheading the  rise of the Progressive Rock movement.   It was this movement, together with Electronica and Movie Scores, that influenced the young guitarist,  leading  him to develop a style filled with soaring leads and gorgeous textures.  

Such is his knowledge of, the guitar, and all things related, that his YouTube channel “gilmourish RIIS”, has become an extremely successful  destination guitar fans.  The channel can be seen  at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWcIN_-togBBmlCYsuuy6Pg

More information about BJØRN RIIS can be found on the guitarist’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BjornRiisArtistPage  and on his website at https://www.bjornriis.com/ 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Band contact:  bjorn@airbag.no
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BjornRiisArtistPage
Website:  https://www.bjornriis.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjornriis/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWcIN_-togBBmlCYsuuy6Pg
Bandcamp: https://bjornriis.bandcamp.com
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karismarecords/
Karisma Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com
Karisma Records BandCamp: http://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/music