Shamblemaths: Part humorous, part serious, all wonky…..

Shamblamths is Simen Å. Ellingsen (guit,sax,vox, principal writer) and Ingvald A. Vassbø (drums & perc). Shamblemaths 2 was out on Apollon Prog some weeks ago.

Founded as Fallen Fowl in ’03 by Ellingsen and E.M. Husum (bass). An EP was quietly emitted ’06 before hibernation ensued. Word recommenced in ’11 resulting in album Shamblemaths in ’16. Husum left in ’18. Vassbø joined in ’19.

A blatant and unabashed throwback to the golden days of 70s prog, Shamblemaths (from Trondheim, Norway) will enthuse the connoisseur of complexity, and drive most others to outrage or silent sobs. Part humorous, part serious, all wonky, self-important and rampantly anglophile!

Our second album is darker, heavier, knottier, yet more fragile and vulnerable. It has taken five years, countless studio hours, but zero compromises. Hours of music have been distilled to 45 intense minutes, each one of which a deliberate and necessary part, and not a calorie was spent catering to anyone’s preferences but our own. Some might call it a change of direction, but then Shamblemaths never had a direction to begin with.

The album is like a picture with many shades, but all from a common, dark palette. There is anger and despair, quiet melancholy and faint embers of hope. In sound and instrumentation we remain in some will call the retro-prog landscape. Here are heavy numbers, reinterpretations of a 20th century string quartet and an ancient hymn, and contemporary classical moments. Yet all the components are chosen and constructed to form a coherent album which is more than a collection of tunes.

Shamblemaths is currently Simen Ellingsen (soprano/alto/tenor/baritone sax, guitar, vocals, recorder, sundry implements) and Ingvald A. Vassbø (drums, perc) with Ellingsen the principal writer. The album could not have materialised without a jaw-dropping performance by bassist Eskild Myrvoll (Kanaan) and keyboard wizard Paolo Ske Botta (Ske, Yugen, Not a Good Sign) lending his genius, alongside an array of indispensable guest musicians.

1              Måneskygge                      01:04

2              Knucklecog                         09:56

3              D.S.C.H. (Op. 110 String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Mvts. 1 and 2)                06:23

4              Lat Kvar Jordisk Skapning Teia Pts. 1-4                     06:36

5              Lat Kvar Jordisk Skapning Teia Pt. 5 Sanctus                          05:38

6              Lat Kvar Jordisk Skapning Teia Pts. 6-8                     03:43

7              Lat Kvar Jordisk Skapning Teia Pt 9 Mørker Vik På All Hans Veg                    02:17

8              Been And Gone                02:12

9              This River                             09:04

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