Rating: 4-1/2 stars (out of 5)
One of the best kept secrets in progressive rock is the 5-piece
Norwegian band, Airbag. This band, who admit to influences such
as Pink Floyd (the members double as a Pink Floyd tribute band
called The Pink Floyd Experience), Marillion, Talk Talk, David
Sylvian, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree, A-ha, U2 and Chroma Key,
bears some similarities to the bands that influenced it, but yet
somehow slides into its own niche.
This 4-song EP starts off with a track called "No Escape," a
6-minute effort that sounds like a cross between Talk Talk and
U2, if Steven Wilson did the guitar work and production. It's
got an infectious groove and is very hypnotic. While not an
up-tempo number by any means, it is still the "fastest" track on
the album. It's apparent from the opener that this is going to
be an enjoyable 30-minute listen.
Next up is "Steal My Soul," one of two tracks clocking in at
8:15, tying for the longest songs on the EP. The track
opens up with some ambient sounds, followed by some subtle
piano. It settles into a slow, moody, atmospheric number and is
quite possibly my favorite song to date by Airbag. Asle
Tostrup's vocals are haunting (imagine a cross between Talk
Talk's Mark Hollis and A-ha's Morten Harket), the keyboards of
Jorgen Hagen paint a soundscape much like Richard Barbieri does
for Porcupine Tree. The guitar work of Bjorn Riis is tasteful
and accomplishes much in very few notes, a la David Gilmour or
Steve Rothery. Part of the song's magic is that the other
instruments drop out at the end, leaving only the main, gentle
guitar part.
The second of the long (8:15) tracks, "My Colours" comes next,
and continues the mood set by "Steal My Soul." It again relies
on tasteful keyboard textures, serving as a platform for
Tostrup's wonderful voice and the guitar of Riis. The band's
rhythm section of Joachim Slikker (drums) and Anders Hovdan
(bass) don't drive the songs, but they support them nicely. The
drums are very reminiscent of the sparse but tasteful efforts of
Pink Floyd's Nick Mason. If there is a criticism of the
recording, it is that Hovdan's bass is a bit low in the mix for
my liking, but it's a minor quibble.
The closer is the 7-minute-long title track, "Safetree." Perhaps
the weaker little brother of "My Colours," the title track is
still a good song. It is a continuation of the melancholic mood
set by the previous two tracks, and brings the EP to a natural
conclusion. At the 4:15 mark, there's a beautiful guitar solo by
Riis, followed by Hagen's synth wash that threatens to carry you
slowly away.
This is an EP I can highly recommend to fans of Pink Floyd,
Porcupine Tree or latter day Marillion. Safetree is a
wonderfully atmospheric 30-minute ride, and would be a great
companion on an overcast day.
Right now, the band's music can be purchased through their
website,
www.airbagsound.com. They are also very into the viral
marketing thing and have allowed fans to download their two EPs
in the hopes that they will appreciate what they hear and donate
to the band's efforts. So please, if you like what you hear from
this band, buy their music on CD or at least send them some
money via Paypal (through their site) to keep them going. This
is not a resource we want to lose.
