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SHAMBLEMATHS

Eclectic Prog • Norway


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Shamblemaths biography
SHAMBLEMATHS is the new project by Norwegian duo Simen Å. ELLNGSEN and Eirik M. HUSUM. This band is actually a direct contiuation of their first collaboration as a duo formed in their student days in 2004 under the name Fallen Fowl. That collaboration actually started as a side project to the band TiaC that was active in the early 2000, the song "Stalker" from the new album is actually a TiaC song that was never recorded. A couple of demos and an EP were recorded under Fallen Fowl before a hiatus ensued when ELLINGSEN moved to London to complete his studies.

Now they've returned as SHAMBLEMATHS with an edgier sound and approach, adding more influences from Magma, Univers Zero and Egg. The band plays an eclectic mix of countless styles and the music is pretty much all over the place, exploring both melodic and quirky areas. Their self titled album was released in the spring of 2016 featuring guests musicians, most prominently Eirik Øverland Dischler on keyboards and Jon Even Schärer on drums. HUSUM is playing bass and ELLINGSEN is playing guitars, saxophones and also handles the vocals.

⭐ Collaborators Top Prog Album of 2021 ⭐

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SHAMBLEMATHS discography


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SHAMBLEMATHS top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.86 | 141 ratings
Shamblemaths
2016
4.32 | 179 ratings
Shamblemaths 2
2021

SHAMBLEMATHS Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SHAMBLEMATHS Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

SHAMBLEMATHS Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SHAMBLEMATHS Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4.33 | 3 ratings
Fallen Fowl: Do They Love You Now?
2006

SHAMBLEMATHS Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

5 stars The second Shamblemaths album finds the band continuing to refine and polish their capability of visiting pretty much every style of progressive rock at once and integrate them all into cohesive and compelling compositions. This time around, there's a little less zeuhl on the menu, an extra helping of Canterbury, and perhaps more than a hint of Änglagård (and other Scandi-prog outfits of the mid-1990s like Sinkadus and Landberk), especially when it comes to the use of vintage-sounding keyboard textures. Maybe it's just because I am a sucker for the particularly melancholic Mellotron moods of that latter influence, but this feels like it really helps take Shamblemaths' sound to the next level.
 Shamblemaths by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.86 | 141 ratings

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Shamblemaths
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Prog bands are often challenging to categorise, though goodness knows we prog fans do our best to try anyway, devising all manner of subgenres to describe our favourites. (Our cousins in the metal and jazz fandoms know the feeling too.)

Then you get a group like Shamblemaths coming along and knocking aside all attempts to draw borders. On this debut album they start in early with this intense, zeuhl-like energy, all foreboding lyrical chants and martial rhythms, but they strike out from there and ultimately end up visiting sounds as disparate as jazz fusion, folk prog, and the more theatrical sort of symphonic prog (a la the most whimsical moments of Genesis or England).

Good luck to you if you try and catch them doing it, however - Ellingsen and Husum slip and slide between one musical style and another like a duo of musical chameleons, which saves their compositions from sounding like disjointed jumbles of snippets. They are also more than willing to settle down into a particular sound ands let it play out and develop, which is good - it avoids the disjointedness which can come from eclectic groups trying to stuff in too many ideas at once, and gives their ideas space to breathe.

On the whole, a confident and capable debut.

 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by WJA-K

4 stars Shamblemaths. I never would have discovered them if it weren't for Progarchives. Their second album is absolutely great, taking what we know from prog and making it their own.

Knucklecog - starts slowly, but has many dynamic shifts. With many references to King Crimson. I recognize snippets of Starless in the guitar, drumming and sax. Especially in the loud parts and the climax. But the track as a whole sounds like it took inspiration from different eras of King Crimson. From the first album (20th-century schizoid man) to the 2000s. That said, it has enough uniqueness to not be a shameless copy. Rather, it is a feat of standing on the shoulders of giants to create their own unique sound. 8.5/10

D.S.C.H. - I love this proggy take on Shostakovich's motif. Very interesting and entertaining and has a lot of drive. 8/10

Lat kvar jordisk skapning teia 1-4 - Starting off with a soft voice, this track is an exercise in dynamics too. These change in dynamics again have many similarities with the best work of King Crimson. 8/10

Lat kvar jordisk skapning teia 5 - nice jazzy piece, reminiscent of what happened on this front early seventies. But with some punch and not a lot of needless noodling. 8/10

Lat kvar jordisk skapning teia 6-8 - We enter King Crimson-eske territory again. Everything we hear is heavily inspired by them, with touches of jazz and classic music. Shamblemaths doesn't worry that much about genres. And creates a great unique mix. 8/10

Lat kvar jordisk skapning teia 9 - Nice outro of the 9 part suite. I have some issues with the uneven voice of the kid singingr. I would have preferred the female voices of before. I type this without knowing what actually is sung. 7/10

Been and Gone - nice little interlude. Nothing shocking compared to the rest of the album. Perhaps the lowlight. 7/10

This River - Starts very restrained. Which I love. The sax solo is beautifully mellow too. Around the midpoint, the track picks up speed in a mellotron heavy part. Again reminiscent of King Crimson. We reach the climax at about 6 minutes. And then ending in a mellow way, fitting for the album. 8.5/10

I think this is a strong album. It takes inspiration from the greats, especially Crimson, but with its own voice. In contrast to other artists like Wobbler. I love it. I recommend it. This is why I rate it 4 stars. As an excellent addition to any prog rock music collection.

 Shamblemaths by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.86 | 141 ratings

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Shamblemaths
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by Gallifrey

3 stars Listening diary 13th March, 2021: Shamblemaths - s/t (progressive rock, 2016)

This opens wonderfully - a flurry of Magma-influenced wizardry backed by Maudlin of the Well-style metal tones, and perhaps sets up the rest of the record unfairly. It's still a good album, but within the first minutes I had in mind a mindboggling piece of zeuhl revival, whereas this is just a solid, albeit meandering, throwback prog rock album. For a one-man project, this is quite an achievement, given that the jazziness of Magma's zeuhl is so reliant on instrumental interplay. But it does end a bit tamely with some more standard revival prog-isms, meaning I did lose a bit of interest come the end, but perhaps further listens will reveal more. Highly recommended for fans of jazzy throwback prog though.

5.7 (1st listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook music blog - www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction

 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by JohnProg

3 stars After several listens I can say that I do not share the enthusiasm that this album has aroused and that, according to its reviews, it would seem like a must listen. Perhaps this is due to the odious but inevitable comparisons that this album arouses from the first minutes (mainly King Crimson and All Traps On Earth) and that hinder listening when the music does not reach the level of said bands. Only when the band -always in an experimental way- moves away from musical histrionics almost close to free jazz does it manage to develop its best moments (listen to the first minutes of "Lat Kvar Jordisk Skapning Teia Pt. 5") and not when, deliberately and a little clever, try to imitate the frenetic musical forms of All traps on earth.
 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

5 stars I must admit I get intimidated reviewing certain albums like this one and so I keep holding off the review plus I want to keep it in my play list for as long as I can. SHAMBLEMATHS is the project of Norwegian Simen A Ellingsen who is a multi- instrumentalist and composer. I gave his debut 4.5 stars and I feel that this is just slightly better and enough to hit that magical 5 star rating. Man I love the retro sound here with the mellotron then add Simen's adventerous sax work and compositions and man this is my album of the year right here. I was reminded of ANGLAGARD and that Swedish sound and it doesn't hurt that the liner notes contain some cool pictures of the "woods" in Norway which ANGLAGARD liked to do showing off those Swedish forests. There just seems to be a connection between the land and the music. This is often dark, mysterious and romantic.

Simen has a new musical partner who is a drummer plus we get many guests adding a variety of vocals, keyboards and bass. There's really only six tracks here spread over 47 minutes as that long track at 18 minutes translated "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" is divided into 4 separate tracks. That title reminds me of a combination of Zechariah 2:13 "Be still before the Lord all mankind because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling" and Habakkuk 2:20 "But the Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth be silent before him".

Speaking of mysterious how about that short 1 minute opener called "Maneskygge" where we get that melancholic alto sax with the double bass helping out. "Knucklecog" is my least favourite only because of the bombast which isn't my thing but that's just a part of this 10 minute piece. Love those psychedelic calms as the keys echo. Jazzy drums and and picked guitar as well. Vocals arrive with mellotron in tow. It kicks in again as sax joins that beautiful atmosphere. Complex is the word 4 minutes in. Check out that sounds after 5 1/2 minutes! A calm follows as themes continue to be repeated then some female vocals after 7 minutes with sax, atmosphere and jazzy drums before kicking back in.

I am blown away by the remainder of this album beginning with the 6 1/2 minute "D.S.C.H." which starts with baritone sax before we are hit with power. Some nasty organ and man SINKADUS comes to mind, this is so good. It settles again quickly with some soprano recorder but that organ is nasty that comes and goes boiling away. Some mellotron as soprano female vocals arrive and other sounds that come and go. It kicks in after 3 minutes with the guitar out front. Soon it's a stampede! The sax is great here and the tempo continues to shift. So much going on at 5 minutes then a calm with piano only. Again it's brief as it kicks back in.

Next is that monster 18 minute piece called "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"and it opens with solo female vocals before mellotron then some depth kicks in as vocals continue. Oh my! Check out those heavy outbursts. Jarring and powerful. She will step aside as the sax takes the lead in a powerful setting. Some beautiful keyboard sounds after 4 minutes as it has settled followed by mellotron at 5 1/2 minutes. It's building bringing ANGLAGARD to mind before we get another calm.

The next section is dark with sparse sounds. The piano echoes as we hear cymbals and atmosphere. So good! It turns fuller around 2 1/2 minutes. Man this section ends so amazingly with those nasty keyboards, mellotron, sax and heaviness. Come on! Mellotron storms in to end it as we get the next section that begins with female vocals then heaviness with sax. Complex. Love that electric piano and intricate sounds as we get a calm. Picked guitar and xylophone too. Bassoon! Mellotron is ravaging the soundscape 2 minutes in then check out the sound after 3 minutes! The final section opens with a child singing in a reserved way in atmosphere.

"Been And Gone" is a short 2 minute track that is haunting and dark like those woods in Norway. Double bass with experimental sounds along with some mellotron and whispers. "This River" ends it with Simen's understated vocals with piano. I am surprisingly drawn to this. We do get some mellotron, bass and female vocals joining in. Sax will follow as it gets a little fuller and check out that mellotron before 4 minutes. It ends with dual vocals and piano.

What a ride or should I say adventure. I need to do a retro list of my favourite albums I just love this style of music. So many great ideas on this album. I wasn't expecting the mellotron and Simen told me he thought I would like this new direction he went in given my penchant for Rio as he put it.

 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by DamoXt7942
Forum & Site Admin Group Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams

4 stars First of all thanks to every mate who has recommended this great album to me. "Shamblemaths 2" was released as the second full-length album by a Norwegian rock duo SHAMBLEMATHS in October 2021. This is my first Shamblemath album actually and a quick listen to "2" has notified me why this album is appreciated by lots of progressive rock fans. Very complex, very diverse, but very optimistic and very suggestive ... we could mention this creation as such.

After the prologue entitled "Måneskygge" featuring Simen's refined saxophone sounds, the real departure (and one of their masterpieces) "Knucklecog" possessing energetic sarcastic musical explosions goes forward with incredible rhythmic dissection and melodic distortion. Their intensely enthusiastic dissonance suddenly grabs our heart in a beyond-recovery manner. The sound formation may be sometimes called avantgarde, sometimes heavy, and sometimes jazzy. Such a diversity getting over the subgenre categories is also fascinating. The following "D.S.C.H. (8th String Quartet in Cm, Op. 110, mvts 1 & 2)" (I have had a listen to these quirky mysterious melody lines and found this is an opus by Shostakovich!) is superbly arranged and stabilized by the duo filled with deep strong eccentric rock essence, like "Starbird" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Yeah additionally SCH's tough and sensitive feelings can be expressed so badly. The last song "This RIver" is the grand finale featuring all of their heavy fuzzy dizzy instruments especially drastic saxophone, critical synthesizer, and fantastic female vocals. Earthy grassy flavour like a river on a mountainside or in a deep forest is awesome really.

"Lat Kvar Jordisk Skapning Teia" Suite is the piece de resistance. Melodic weirdness, quietness, harmonization and synchronization are coming out one after another. Dark ambience produced by wind instruments and cynical rhythmic nations is very impressive. Kind of fantasy is that silky-touched sensitive melodic texture is popping out immediately after the darkness. Their complicated melody lines are not common nor rational but two Shamblers' powerful sound launching should make us feel that they are theoretical. The former part of "Part 5" reminds me of the similar vein to French RIO jazz project Red Noise plus heavy metallic innovation. Various soundscape based upon their musical background heard here there everywhere should be enchanting and uncopyable. The following part has perverted deathcore-ish attachments amongst delicate quiet ambient intervals. And 6-year-old Elvor's pretty charming singing can relax us completely in the last "Part 9". Such an unimaginable combination should be cherished in a large scale.

Good work. In a good sense, I love such a 'wonderfully messy sound-polluted' creation indeed.

 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by Michael919

5 stars What a freaking ride!

What's in the Scandinavian water? Seriously, I think the majority of my favourite prog acts from the past 20 years are from Norway and Sweden. Here's another.

Wow! What an album this is. It has a winning combination of elements and moods that deliver exactly what I want in this style of prog.

Others have made some good comparisons for describing this music: King Crimson, Seven Impale, Anglagard, etc. I'll add Anekdoten to those already mentioned. None of that is to say they aren't original. It's just to describe what it's like. It's their own through their own blend.

Just listen to it once or twice and be sure to go right to the end each time. The finale, This River is an epic, confident and climactic conclusion to a great album.

 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by Isaac Peretz

5 stars A modern progressive rock masterpiece. Shamblemaths utilizes influence from King Crimson in a very musically mature way. Whether it is the use of saxophone for both bombastic instrumentation and atmospheric sections, or the blend of male and female vocals, this record manages to perform amazingly in many aspects, allowing for a non-repetitive and immersive experience all-along.

The songs vary in purpose, whether it is the opener's atmospheric calm-before-the-storm-esque ambience to prepare the listener to the heavy Knucklecog. Or Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence's use of overlapped vocals and a cappella combined with King Crimson inspired jams. Or This River's amazing sense of build up and tension released as a final climax in the album.

This record is very accessible for anyone who's a fan of progressive rock, and I highly recommend it to anyone. *****

 Shamblemaths 2 by SHAMBLEMATHS album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.32 | 179 ratings

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Shamblemaths 2
Shamblemaths Eclectic Prog

Review by TenYearsAfter

3 stars Due to a cascade of euphoric reports on the Internet I decided to listen to this new Norwegian project. Well, to me it sounds like a blend of Anglagard (more experimental second album), King Crimson (avant-garde inspired early Seventies) and Il Balletto Di Bronzo (album Ys, a Classic Italian Prog gem). The compositions are very adventurous, daring and captivating, but also pretty complex and quirky, or even mighty close to cacophonic. Room for vintage keyboards, from sumptuous Hammond organ eruptions to majestic Mellotron choir layers. And more for brass/woodwind, often in the avant-garde style, not my cup of tea. At some moments I am blown away by this music, but in general it is too nerveracking for me.

Anyway, this Norwegian formation delivers interesting music, to say the least, only the vocals sound mediocre. I am not planning to buy their albums after my listening sessions, but thumbs up for these creative and adventurous minds, going their own way in the amazing world of prog.

My rating: 3,5 star.

Thanks to sagichim for the artist addition. and to projeKct for the last updates

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