The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

[seruven]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

It's sad that this thread is not active any more...
Here is a song that a friend of mine from Erzurum has recommended:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgyqEWu6QQI

[Crimson Glow]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

andre and mihran are good too at the moment

I started this thread specifically to avoid discussing crap pop music stars like Andre. Please don't mention his name in a thread devoted to QUALITY & PROGRESSIVE Armenian music.

Anyway, adding to the list. Ser, it's funny you should mention Arax. When I was thinking what other bands to add to this list a few days ago, it occurred to me I had completely forgotten about them, but they're also very good. SO...



Arax

This group stays much more true to traditional Armenian folk music than most of the aforementioned bands (their songs are comprised of primarily Komitas classics), albeit it they reproduce the music with a more classical sounding acoustic approach to them. Overall, it's very simplistic and clean. Nevertheless, I find the music to be done very well and tastefully. Definitely worth checking out this Belgium quintet.

Ezeroumi Shoror (courtesy of Seruven's link)
MySpace page
Official site



Hosharian Brothers

Sons of the famous (amongst the Armenian community) Ed Hosharian, these 2 brothers have decided to continue their family's music legacy in a more modern way. Their first album, Electric Kef, which I downloaded via Amazon ($9) is terrific. It almost sounds like Dream Theater (with whom keyboardist Greg Hosharian toured with his former band) meets Armenian folk music. There is definitely a prog rock/metal sound to many of the songs, and their drummer is phenomenal. If you want a much harder, much louder version of some old classics while still maintaining Armenian sounds, you'll definitely like this album.

Tamzara (yes, the video is cheesy, but this is a great prog rock rendition)
Electric Kef promo video
MySpace page
Official site



Element

Not sure how I forgot about this one on all my previous posts, but I've been listening to them for a couple years, now. Many of you in Cali are probably familiar with this group, who take classic and contemporary Armenian songs, and compliment them with very unorthodox styles, like American country and Spanish. It's a very interesting twist which I like. My only complaint is that the female lead can sound a bit nasally, and almost Asian at times, but I overlook that because I like the renditions. They recently changed their line up, and released another album which I haven't heard in its entirety yet, but there are snippets of the songs in a YouTube promo video, as well as samples on their MySpace page. Sounds very promising, and the new singers sound great (though the male vocalist sounds shaky in the live clip).

Anoush Hayrenik (live with old line-up)
Ayloughes (old Harout Pamboukjian song)
Official site
MySpace page

[iFemale]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

Let's not forget that Parskahay is definitely indeed a Parskahye.

[seruven]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

Lilit Pipoyan
Coming from the mountain - Yes saren gukayi
Mi lar - Don't cry
Apple

[Crimson Glow]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

Deti Picasso

Yet another group I forgot to post about earlier. This Russian Armenian rock band is definitely going to be a love/hate thing. It's very experimental and psychedelic, and the vocals are not concerned with singing "pretty", which works oddly well with the style. Definitely a lot of drugs involved with this one!! Just kidding......sort of. Anyway, they have the most bizarre and complex renditions of classics that I've heard yet, and I'm finding myself liking them more and more with each listening. So turn on the black light, drop some acid, and have a listen...

Dle Yaman (official video)
Ninare (live; not the greatest sound quality)
Ninare (another live version; better sound quality, but cut short)
Khndzori Dzari Dage (live)
Ov Sirun, Sirun (live; pretty good sound quality)
Erki Par (live)
Erki Par (studio version with pretty good sound quality)
Ampi Takits (live; man, I had forgotten all about this classic)
Official MySpace Page (this is where their official website redirects to)



Mariam Matossian

This grandchild of a genocide survivor (for whom she's named after) has a far more mellow approach to altering the arrangements of classic folk songs that most people will find much easier to digest. She is passing on songs that were handed down from previous generations in an effort to continue their legacy.

Great promotional video/interview
Khndzori Dzari Dage (studio version)
Patsvadz Vart (live)
Official Website (several sample clips)
Official MySpace Page (more music samples)



Hooshere Bezdikian

The single video I stumbled upon on YouTube of this young lady prompted me to dig around for more info on her. I couldn't find much (not even an official website, or MySpace page), but her album is listed on CDBaby, where you can at least hear some samples of her mellow, yet modernized, unique arrangements of classic Armenian folk songs. I like what I've heard so far, and will most likely purchase the CD shortly.

Caravan (studio version with still photos)
Samples from her CD here



Armenian Space Station

Another hard hitting prog rock band whose music is comprised of instrumentals featuring complex time signatures and odd meters. These guys stray away quite a bit more from traditional Armenian music, but there's no denying the influence is there in a lot of the melodies. As it was brought to my attention by SilverLining, this is yet another project of keyboardist Greg Hosharian (of the Hosharian Bros I mentioned in an earlier post).

Promo Video
Art of Rebellion
Official Website
Official MySpace Page

[Haykakan]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

I loved the Caravan song and the Armenian Spacestation band.
Thanks so much for posting these.

[retro]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

Mariam Matossian has a lovely voice and this folk song is very soulful.

Khntsori Zarin Dag (Under the Apple Tree)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZIkN4WyhHc

[Crimson Glow]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

Mariam Matossian has a lovely voice and this folk song is very soulful.

Khntsori Zarin Dag (Under the Apple Tree)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZIkN4WyhHc

Ummm.....I already mentioned her just 2 posts above yours, and even linked to that same video along with several others.

[vasbourakan1]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

Also in line with quality/progressive, I recommend you to listen Fedayi Pasha.
it's instrumental and a bit difficult to follow, but after some while it appears quite attractive. After discovering him in Haytoug magazine, I mentioned him in another thread, and later downloaded almost everything I found on myspace and youtube.

[retro]

Re: The Quality/Progressive Armenian Music Thread

Ummm.....I already mentioned her just 2 posts above yours, and even linked to that same video along with several others.

Yes I know and I was responding to your thread.