Beekstraat 1 - B-2640 Mortsel - Belgium

GAZPACHO - Night

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The five musicians of Gazpacho regularly got together in the studio to write music for the pleasure of it and have released two previous albums "Bravo" and "When Earth Lets Go" yet. It didn't take long until four of their tracks from their debut "Bravo" were in the top three of mp3.com, but mp3.com went bust and the band needed to change their tactics. Records were sent to media channels leading to critical appraisal in many magazines and e-zines. “Bravo” sold over the 2000 copies in 2003 without any backing from record companies or management. This introduction to the big world was mostly thanks to the internet which proved to be a useful tool, not only in communicating with fans and selling records, but also as a unique collaboration between continents (USA, Norway, and New Zealand). The song "Novgorod" was written and produced between these places without even paying for a single bus ticket. The American singer Esther Valentine and producer Peter Kearns from New Zealand teamed up with Gazpacho to write the song by sending files through the internet while they've actually never met, and still haven't to this day. The second album “When earth lets go” provided a new twist of fate. Gazpacho was contacted by producer Steve Lyon, but still as an independent band. This ended up in collaboration on the track “Substitute for Murder”. In 2004 they toured throughout Europe supporting Marillion, resulting in 31 concerts performing for 30.000 people. In 2005, Gazpacho's third album “Firebird” was the released on Intact Records. Appearing on “Firebird” is Marillion's guitar legend Steve Rothery contributing in “Do you know what you are saying?”

The new album “Night” is Gazpacho’s first concept album where initially one song is split into five parts with a total length running over the 53 minutes. "Night" is a musical description of a dream or a stream of consciousness. It explores the question of where dreams end and reality begins and the mind as the tool that has to decide what to believe. The character goes through various memories real and imagined and sees the world from the angles of different people. He travels through time and visits places across the world including old New Orleans and Ancient woods with Pagan rituals being performed. “Night” is about life and the various ways of interpreting existence. Musically spoken you can describe it as a hybrid between Marillion, Pendragon, Galahad, Camel, IQ and many others with some pop ingredients and a bit of Hungarian waltz thrown in. A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into the making of this album, using over 200 recorded tracks and a thousand sound files. Thomas Andersen wrote and arranged all the tracks together with Jon-Arne Vilbo; Jan Henrik Ohme and Mikael Krømer. Although it is Andersen who spend most of his time on the whole album, besides writing on the tracks he also mixed the whole concept and produced and engineered it with the assistance of Mikael Krømer. The production is really clear and the musicians spread their talents and virtuosity on the whole album. There’s no doubt that Gazpacho is influenced by, and sounds most like Marillion, maybe due to the fact that J-H Ohme’s vocal sound is that close to Steve Hoggart’s voice, but also in musical way a lot of Marillion influences can be found without copying or steal anything from them, it’s just a matter of same style and playing. "Night" is their best album to date.

The album "Night" will be available in February and the printers where in overdrive mode to hit the deadline of the Marillion Weekend where they played. You can order your copy through Racket Records through their dedicated space.

Musicians

Jan Henrik Ohme: Vocals & backing vocals
Thomas Andersen: Piano, Keyboards & programming
Jon-Arne Vilbo: Acoustics & Guitars
Mikael Krømer: Violins & programming
Kristian Olav Torp: Bass

Robert Risberget Johansen: Drums & percussion

Guest appearance:
Kristian "The Duke" Skedsmo: whistles, accordion, didgeridoo, mandolin, banjo

Dream of Stone (17:00)
Chequered Light Buildings (6:34)
Upside Down (9:41)
Valerie's Friend (6:29)
Massive Illusion (13:37)

Get it while it's cold
Bravo (2003)
When earth lets go (2004)
Firebird (2005)
Night (2007)

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Last updated: 20 mei 2007 .
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