From Russia comes an authentic blend of musical genres and a unique music voyage.....EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED for EVERY PROGRESSIVE ROCK listener! Open your minds and enjoy!
The Gourishankar biography
THE GOURISHANKAR (meaning "the mountain as high as Everest") is a unique blend of old and new, music that blurs the line between Modern Prog and Retro Prog-- imagine DREAM THEATER mixed with TAAL and PORCUPINE TREE. They refuse to label themselves as a Prog band but it is obvious they are. Marked with outstanding professionalism, these musicians (Nomy Agranson - guitars, basses, backing vocals; Doran Usher - keyboards and programming; Vlad MJ Whiner - lead vocals; Cat Heady - drums, loops) got together in Russian provincial town Syktyvkar. They already knew each other from activity in related projects, and they still participate in them (from alternative rock to electronics).
After releasing some demo-works (one of them included GENTLE GIANT's "For Nobody"), they've managed to sign to the UNICORN label and this Spring released their first official CD "2nd Hands". It is utterly spectacular-- we have influences from almost every musical genre and a strong melodic basis supplied with mindblowing complexity.
"2nd Hands" can be recommended to all Prog fans due to its universal beauty. One of the most promising bands from the Russian scene.
Studio Album, released in 2007
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Moon7 (10:11)
2. Endless Drama (7:45)
3. Queer Forest (6:30)
4. Taste A Cake (1:47)
5. The Inexpressible Chagrin (6:54)
6. Syx (11:08)
7. ...End (8:40)
8. Marvelous Choice (18:16)
Total Time: 71:11
- Vlad MJ Whiner / lead vocals
- Doran Usher / keyboards, programming
- Nomy Agranson / guitars, backing vocals
- Cat Heady / drums, loops
Guest musicians:
- Vladimir Ratorguev / viola
- Dmitry Ulyashev / saxophone, flute
- Alla Izverskaya / backing vocals
One may consider me a maniac giving 5 stars to every Prog band from post-Soviet area.I must disappoint you - I'm a quite adequate person and use 5 stars pretty rare. These incredible guys truly deserve every star from all 5!Participating in a number of other projects (from alternative rock to electronics), guys distancing themselves from Prog label as well as from any other.Come on, don't be shy - you're Prog! Welcome!
OK, sceptics, look here - we have amazing blend of Retro and Modern Prog with perfect equilibrium. Don't stuck to PORCUPINE TREE or TAAL comparings - they are used only to denote that THE GOURISHANKAR is the same way beautiful, challenging and essential. If you'll miss it, then go and burn your CD collection: you're progger no more.
The album starts from oriental flavour of "Moon7" - energetic complex instrumental evoking best ANGLAGARD's moments, but with dozens of other influences from almost EVERY musical genre we - humans - have. THE GOURISHANKAR have probably wider range of influences ;). One can notice that flavour in almost every track - the following "Endless Drama" (think of GENTLE GIANT jams with DREAM THEATER) has it, and "Queer Forest" with unexpected Reggae mid-part too. That's great - the band named in eastern way MUST have some mystic eastern tunes!And it has and in a good way. Short "Taste a Cake" leads you to "The Inexpressible Chagrin", a wonderful H's MARILLION-like ballad (a radio piece? ;) ), which proves how strong these guys are in songwriting - complex but never chaotic, melodic but never cheesy!!! Awesome! Another dark instrumental follows ("Syx"), and seventh track frightens us with its name ("End"). Hell no! The good MUST last for some long time, and closing 18-min long monster ("Marvelous Choice") is alone worth buying of this CD!
Get Album !
