Octopus - Thaerie Wighen CD
SKU
NACD 059
First-ever reissue for this extremely obscure, ‘one and done’ [well, almost – see below] Norwegian prog band.
“This Octopus came from Haugensund and comprised of keyboardist Tore Aarnes, guitarist/singer Henry Holden and drummer Roar Søderlind.
The band was born in late-70's and recorded a private-pressed album in 1981, ''Thærie wiighen'' (Octocon Records), with the help of Olav Dale and Morten Andersen on bass, Ole Gloesen on acoustic guitar and Yngve Slettholm on flute. For the most of its length this one sounds exactly like a late-70's German semi-symphonic prog album, Shaa Khan, Germans Octopus, Sirius and Iskander have much in common with the sound of this Norwegian band. This trio could produce some impressive atmospheres, beginning from poetic, lyrical moments with decent vocals, soft symphonic overtone and acoustic breaks and ending up in epic, proggy proportions with Teutonic-styled electric leads and soaring synthesizers.
Leader Tore Aarnes (main composer of the band) makes use of grand and electric pianos, synths, clavinet and a pipe organ throughout, the guitar solos are melodic and emotional and some passages are moving towards the emerging Neo Prog sound. They could really play, the marching rhythms combined with the more symphonic textures offer a brilliant collage of sounds, lowered only by a pretty mediocre production.
In 1982 Octopus wrote and pre-recorded a Rock Opera, titled ''Sica'', which apparently was never released. Then came the line-up changes, Aarnes left the group in 1983 and moved to a brief Synth-Pop carrer as Y Me, while Octopus became Octopus Band and released one single in 1984. Next year they changed their name again, this time to Rough Justice, releasing the album ''Don’t stop believing'' in 1986, which also marked the end of this widely unknown band.”
- LabelNorske Albumklassikere Prog
- UPC7059135210597