In the nineteenth century, cosmorama was all the rage. This technique allows people to look at photographs through a specially designed contraption that makes the photograph seem three-dimensional and multi-layers, so that it seems as if the viewer is standing in the actual picture. A popular subject for cosmorama pictures was landscapes. So, when a singer-songwriter from Norway looked at one of these pictures in 2009, it sparked off an idea. He decided to write a series of songs that would be multi-layered like one of these pictures. He also wanted to focus on the inner landscape specifically. This led to the creation of Kosmoratik.
Eivind teamed up with Lise Lotte Agedal, a singer whose voice blended exceptionally well with his own. Completing the group is Odd Gunnar Froysland, who plays keyboards and guitar. Eivind writes the song lyrics and together with Odd, sets these lyrics to music. Odd is then responsible for the musical arrangements, especially for strings and woodwind instruments.
Even though Kosmoratik's songs are introspective, their sound tends towards the epic. Eivind and Lise Lotte provide vocal harmonies. These are supplemented by the sounds of Odd's acoustic guitar as well as string quartet and oboe. Flutes, keyboards and synthesizers like mellotron feature strongly in most songs too, adding extra layers to the music.
The band cites many influences, with progressive rock or prog-rock of the early seventies, such as Pink Floyd, Camel and early Fleetwood Mac, as one of their main sound inspirations. Singer-songwriters like John Martyn and Nick Drake are influences too, as are the Beatles. Lyrically Eivind finds his muses in Leonard Cohen and John Lennon, as well as the Persian poet and mystic Hafiz, who lived in the fourteenth century.
Easter 2011 saw the start of recording the band's first album, called 'Gravitation'. For these sessions, two additional musicians joined the trio in the studio. One was Bjarte Jorgensen who played the drums, while the other was Arhur Kay Piene, who played piano, Rhodes piano and a type of synthesizer called a minimoog. The album was released by Nordic Records in May 2012.
The result of the recording sessions is nine poignant, haunting songs. The opening track, 'Veronica, go' is a brooding, melancholy acoustic ballad featuring mainly acoustic guitar. However, while the album is laid-back and mellow in general, it picks up pace in some of the other songs.
The influences of prog-rock come to the fore in the electric guitars. If you listen to 'It's in my mind' and 'Cosmorama' with their guitar solos, you'll be reminded of Pink Floyd in the David Gilmour years. The electric guitars are used even more in 'Lilac smile', 'Years ago, miles apart' and 'In spite of all (Life was grand)'. The Beatles-influenced 'Nothing is static' showcases Lise Lotte's voice. While 'Don Quixote' is a jazzy number that could easily be by Roxy Music, 'Unfinished journeys' has a sound reminiscent of folk artists.
If you like progressive rock with a sophisticated twist, you will appreciate the poetic, symphonic pop of Kosmoratik. You can easily find their music online. Of course, if you find yourself in Oslo, you may also want to check out one of their live performances.
Eivind teamed up with Lise Lotte Agedal, a singer whose voice blended exceptionally well with his own. Completing the group is Odd Gunnar Froysland, who plays keyboards and guitar. Eivind writes the song lyrics and together with Odd, sets these lyrics to music. Odd is then responsible for the musical arrangements, especially for strings and woodwind instruments.
Even though Kosmoratik's songs are introspective, their sound tends towards the epic. Eivind and Lise Lotte provide vocal harmonies. These are supplemented by the sounds of Odd's acoustic guitar as well as string quartet and oboe. Flutes, keyboards and synthesizers like mellotron feature strongly in most songs too, adding extra layers to the music.
The band cites many influences, with progressive rock or prog-rock of the early seventies, such as Pink Floyd, Camel and early Fleetwood Mac, as one of their main sound inspirations. Singer-songwriters like John Martyn and Nick Drake are influences too, as are the Beatles. Lyrically Eivind finds his muses in Leonard Cohen and John Lennon, as well as the Persian poet and mystic Hafiz, who lived in the fourteenth century.
Easter 2011 saw the start of recording the band's first album, called 'Gravitation'. For these sessions, two additional musicians joined the trio in the studio. One was Bjarte Jorgensen who played the drums, while the other was Arhur Kay Piene, who played piano, Rhodes piano and a type of synthesizer called a minimoog. The album was released by Nordic Records in May 2012.
The result of the recording sessions is nine poignant, haunting songs. The opening track, 'Veronica, go' is a brooding, melancholy acoustic ballad featuring mainly acoustic guitar. However, while the album is laid-back and mellow in general, it picks up pace in some of the other songs.
The influences of prog-rock come to the fore in the electric guitars. If you listen to 'It's in my mind' and 'Cosmorama' with their guitar solos, you'll be reminded of Pink Floyd in the David Gilmour years. The electric guitars are used even more in 'Lilac smile', 'Years ago, miles apart' and 'In spite of all (Life was grand)'. The Beatles-influenced 'Nothing is static' showcases Lise Lotte's voice. While 'Don Quixote' is a jazzy number that could easily be by Roxy Music, 'Unfinished journeys' has a sound reminiscent of folk artists.
If you like progressive rock with a sophisticated twist, you will appreciate the poetic, symphonic pop of Kosmoratik. You can easily find their music online. Of course, if you find yourself in Oslo, you may also want to check out one of their live performances.
About the Author:
People curious about the band from Oslo can find out more about this band's sounds and goals at www.kosmoratik.com. They can explore why this band features distinct photography on its albums at http://www.kosmoratik.com.
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