Yesterday among my “Just for You” recommendations at MOG was the album Conquest of the Pacific from the band Oaksenham. The album was released in 2006 and was recommended because I had listened to Kerrs Pink and Dead Heroes Club.Since I had enjoyed both of those bands, I read the info about the band. When I read that they were Armenian the hunt became more interesting! So I downloaded the album to the iPhone and what I found was some great symphonic prog-rock! The highlight for me was the flute! Some background from their website:
OAKSENHAM was founded in 2001 on the basis of another Armenian prog-rock band of nineties “Dumbarton Oaks” (D.O.). The bass player Vahagn Papayan, and D.O. second unit drummer Ashot Korganyan were waiting for more than half decade to move on with the work once interrupted. In 2001 flute and keyboard player Valery Tolstov joined them to confirm the core around which the other musicians assembled one after one. The band’s first gig was held at the “Pacific” festival on September 30, 2001. The band appeared with a completely acoustic line-up including flute (Valery Tolstov), bassoon (Vahagn Papayan, aka Jeff), oboe (Harutyun Shakhkyan), guitar (Henry Karagyozyan, “The King’s Cross”), percussion (Ashot Korganyan) added with violin and cello. Two instrumental arrangements of immortal Gentle Giant compositions were performed – Talybont and On Reflection, as well as three movements from 5-piece suite called “Conquest of the Pacific. Read More
Now about here is where I usually take a break and tell you more about the country of origin of the band, in this case Armenia. What I have decided from now on is to write about the country at my social studies blog Socialstudious. So if you’re like me and are interested in the country that gave us these musicians follow the link
When I went to YouTube to find the video posted below I read the following from Willizblog?:
… Their style reminds me quite a bit of early Camel, due to the way flute is used, but also in the overall feel. There’s some of the gentle, “verdent countryside” feel of Jethro Tull’s more pastoral offerings, and also a bit of classical counterpoint stylings á la Gentle Giant (in fact there’s a nicely-done GG tribute cut, “Talybont / Three Friends” on this album). In addition to this, there’s some fusiony guitar, bass and drum sections and folkish violin work Read More.
Because of the flute I was reminded of Camel and Jethro Tull too, when I was listening to them. Overall I really enjoyed the album and since it is all instrumentals I think it may well become an album that will provide a great soundtrack at work!!
