A few days ago I was browsing through some blogs when I came across a piece of music at The Feral Irishman's place. I'd never heard it before, and never heard of the group - Airbag. It reminded me strongly of Pink Floyd's music, so I decided to find out more about them.
The group's Web site doesn't appear to have been updated since 2016, but it contains this bio of the band.
Airbag was formed in 2004 by five classmates from Oslo, Norway. The band recorded their first EP, Come On In, the same year, followed by Sounds That I Hear (2006) and Safetree (2008). Although recorded for promotional use, the EPs were offered for free on the band’s website and got over 230.000 downloads within just a few months. The networking paid off and Airbag signed with Norwegian label Karisma Records in August 2008.
Airbag’s debut album, Identity (2009), featured remixed versions of most of the songs from the Sounds That I Hear and Safetree EPs. The album exceeded all expectations and was received with rave reviews, – peaking with the single Colours at top 3 on Polish radio in early 2011.
The second release, All Rights Removed (2011), saw Airbag moving in a more conceptual direction with long, epic pieces and dramatic instrumentation ... All Rights Removed received six Best Prog Release of the Year 2011 awards and numerous top-ranking listings.
The Greatest Show on Earth (2013), Airbag’s third release, showed a darker side of the band, with lyrics dealing with the destructive forces in our society. This was also underlined by heavier guitars and dramatic arrangements.
Airbag’s fourth release, Disconnected, is to be released on June 10th 2016.
I don't know if they've released another album since then, or if they're still together. If anyone has more information about them, please share it with us in Comments.
At any rate, having found that much, I looked for more of their music. Here's one track from each of their four commercially released albums. I can understand why many reviews refer to their music as being in the mold of Pink Floyd.
From their first album, "Identity", here's a live performance of "Colours", recorded in Veruno, Italy, in 2016.
Their second album, "All Rights Removed", was released in 2011. This song from it, "Never Coming Home", is what I heard over at The Feral Irishman's place as my introduction to the group.
The album "The Greatest Show on Earth" was released in 2013. From it, here's "Call Me Back".
Their fourth album, "Disconnected", was released in 2016. Here's a live performance of the title track, from the release concert in Oslo, Norway.
That's enough to give you a taste of the band's progressive rock flavor. So far, I like what I've heard.
Peter
3 comments:
Yes, a definite Floyd vibe. I like it, and I say that about damn little recent music.
This sound like Floyd to me: “Ribbon on a Branch” by Younger Brother.
Irish came up with a winner. Definitely early/mid seventies Pink Floyd influence. Might have even been a bit of King Crimson from their first album and a little Robin Trower.........
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