From: "Cliff <>"
<>
Also, there is an American Arabesque which I have not heard yet...as stated
from the record heaven website: http://www.recordheaven.net/butik/index.htm
ARABESQUE Tales of power - Like HANDS, this band managed to exist in America
playing progressive rock, totally original music, and go completely unnoticed
during their career. Complex, dynamic, well constructed and expertly
performed music in an early GENESIS meets CAMEL sort of style but definetly
quite original. Label: Shroom Origin: US Hope this helps.
From: Pete <>
I don't know the band but I recently bought Tales of Power. Very enjoyable. I
think the band maybe regrouping.
From: August Smarra <>
Subject: Re: [e-Prog] Progression Magazine
This issue (Issue No. 40 of Progression) held a special importance to me
because the Shroom sampler was to include a song from my band, Arabesque. I'd
been telling friends and relatives about it since November and at this point
they think I'm full of it. John, please give us a sign :-). Is all hope lost?
Anyway... I've been hearing alot about The Virtuality CD, Scott. I'll head on
over to the site now. Augie Smarra
From: Pete <>
Arabesque - Tales Of Power - Really like this one. The vocals seem to remind
of Orpheus. Musicianship is very good-especially the guitar.. The one thing I
didn't like was the vocals to We (The Farmer Song)-they're not bad just not
my cup I guess. It's too bad they couldn't latch on to some record co. and
have kept it going. Special cudos to Augie (e-prog.list) - it's his band! You
should be very proud-I know I would be!. So Augie tell us all what made you
guys stop and what are you doing now? Inquiring minds want to know!
From: August
Smarra <>
> Arabesque - Tales Of Power [...]
OK Pete, I put you on the spot so I guess I owe you a response to your
questions. First of all thank you for the kind words (Yes I did blush :-)).
It really is amazing to see some of the reviews that we have been getting on
this CD, which makes it all worthwhile. It's been four years in the making,
sorting through old tapes, trying to get the best possible document of the
band. We really weren't sure if the quality of the recordings we had was good
enough for the world to hear (Recording on a very limited budget didn't get
you what it does today) but Rich Patz at Shroom convinced us otherwise. Now
is seems like quite a few people agree with him. There actually are already
plans for a second CD which will include three tunes that were recorded in
the studio, one of which was on the Shroom Sampler in Progression, "The East
Side Of Morning" (Issue #40). As to what made us stop. It's that same old
late 70s story. No Record Company wanted us and everyone was concerned about
their future so we went our separate ways. The do it yourself attitude of
Punk didn't quite sink in yet. To us it looked like Prog was dead because
even bands that were successful at it were going in a more commercial
direction. As for now, we are already talking about writing new material and
recording it properly, all depending on how much interest the CD generates.
It will be a real challenge with us spread across the country but the
technology today makes it all possible. We have another epic piece that we
shelved all those years ago that is crying to be completed. Here is a
great article on music and last years Prog releases from a non Prog site. It
mentions the Arabesque CD. Click on some of the links in the article to other
great articles. Prog is definitely not dead.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-karnick122702.asp If that
isn't enough here's another review of the CD from the Sea of Tranquility
site.
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=485
See what happens when you ask a question...