October Equus Vs. Ahvak
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Topic: October Equus Vs. Ahvak
Posted By: avestin
Subject: October Equus Vs. Ahvak
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 20:45
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http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2599 - OCTOBER EQUUS is a Spanish avant-rock/chamber rock band, influenced by Univers Zero & King Crimson. Having two releases to their credit, they are about to release their third this year.
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OCTOBER EQUUS biography
OCTOBER EQUUS is definitely one of Spain’s most pleasant in the world of prog and avant-garde rock nowadays. Formed in 2003, its well-catalyzed mixture of KING CRIMSON-inspired vibe and PRESENT-inspired ballsy RIO recreates the oppressive moods and sinister atmospheres of avant-garde prof’s primal sources with amazing vitality and freshness, not unlike other contemporary acts such as DR. NERVE and HAPPY FAMILY, to mention just a couple of examples. You can also find, as it is reasonable, influences from contemporary chamber and jazz-rock. Their official eponymous debut album has been receiving acclaims all across the Internet through the year 2006, its punch and complexity being the most featured items in reviews. Two years before this release, the band had recorded and released a free demo titled “Hydra”, distributed only among attendants at their concerts. The repertoire was the same, but set in a different order and using an electronic drum kit instead of an acoustic one.
Until early 2006 the line-up had consisted of Ángel ONTALVA (guitar), Víctor RODRÍGUEZ (keyboards), Amanda PAZOS (bass) and Txema FERNÁNDEZ (drums). But RORDRÍGUEZ and FERNÁNDEZ left the band since then, so ONTALVA and PAZOS - the founding members - are in search of new recruitments while continuing to write and arrange new material. Recommended to fans of KC, PRESENT, UNIVERS ZERO, MAGMA, and generally speaking, to those who fervently love their prog dissonant, challenging and loud. " Listen to them here - http://www.myspace.com/octoberequus - http://www.myspace.com/octoberequus
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=101043430&albumID=0&imageID=11036162">
 http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=101043430&albumID=0&imageID=4218059">
 Ángel Ontalva guitar, Amanda Pazos bass guitar, Víctor Rodríguez keyboards, José Varela drums, Fran Mangas sax and Tom Zunk waterphone on 'Unknown Pilot'
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http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1325 - AHVAK is/was an Israeli band influenced by Present & UZ which released only one album, which is highly regarded.
Here's a good website to read about them and listen to some sample - http://mitkadem3.homestead.com/files/Reviews2/AhvakReviewEnglish.html - http://mitkadem3.homestead.com/files/Reviews2/AhvakReviewEnglish.html
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Ahvak Biography
Most of AHVAK members met through an internet prog-rock forum in Israel. They started rehearsing but didn't work seriously until drummer and composer Dave Kerman (5UU’S, THINKING PLAGUE, U-TOTEM, PRESENT etc.) came to Israel and joined the band. Their debut album was released on Cuneiform Records in the USA and got some pretty flattering reviews.
Their first album is in the RIO (Rock In Opposition) style, influenced by Modernistic music (Stravinsky, Bartok) & high production values in the school of Bob Drake. Since Kerman moved back to the US, the band had to find a new drummer and rehearse for live shows. They plan to record a 2nd album. : : : Uri Breitman, ISRAEL : : : "
http://cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/ahvak.html">
 
Left to Right - Dave Kerman (long hair), Roy Yarkoni (tall guy), Yehuda Kotton (beard), Ishay Sommer (very long hair), Udi Koomran (black short hair), Udi Susser (French beard)
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Replies:
Posted By: Turion
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 21:12
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Now that's a VERY VERY hard poll, but I will go with October Equus ..... that could change very easily tomorrow though :P ------------- ?: ( |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 21:15
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Hi Patrick,
Yes, tough one
 I'm looking forward to OE new one; the new tracks on their myspace are promising. Too bad Ahvak is disbanded.... A real shame. But there are other talents arising in Isreal (one in particular is Ensemble Tinnitus).
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Posted By: Turion
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 21:46
Wow thanks for the heads up on the new OE album and that Israeli band, I'll make sure to check it out !
It's so hard to keep up with so many good bands making such good music, damn them  !------------- ?: ( |
avestin wrote:Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 21:48
Yes, indeed.
Here's a link to a Youtube video by that Israeli ensemble:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfTFno0EN88 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfTFno0EN88
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Posted By: Turion
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 22:10
So they don't even have an album out ? Now I feel better about myself since that's the reason I couldn't know about them :P It sounds REALLY good though, I hope something will be available soon! ------------- ?: ( |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 22:21
Sorry, I gave the wrong impression. No, they're lead by one guy who does the composing and he intends on recording it and releasing it this year. This came to be in the Rimon School for music in Israel.
I hope they'll make that recording and it doesn't fall through.
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Posted By: Sckxyss
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 22:23
| I've only heard Ahvak, which is quite good. I think I really need to check out October Equus now though, considering my three all-time favourite bands are King Crimson, Univers Zero and Magma! |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 22:43
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OCTOBER EQUUS make the kind of music that will disturb you for days. I need to check out AHVAK,i know i've contemplated getting them in the past but never have. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 22:46
Given that you like Present, I think you'll like this as well.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 12:02
Bump
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Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 12:48
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I'd vote for Ahvak straight away because their album is fabulous but it looks like I haven't heard all there is to hear by October Equus. I do so like these sort of chamber-informed rock experiments. =)
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 22:25
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bump
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 23:15
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Ahvak.
No contest for me. OE are cool and I enjoy their album but Ahvak just have to much going for them. Everying just fits perfectly and the music is always interesting. Masterpiece or at least near masterpiece in my mind (where I'd give OE a 3.5).
OE win out in the name game though.  ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 21:23
Yeah. They give a nice liner notes about this in their cd.
I'm eagerly waiting for their next album.
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Posted By: dalt99
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 11:43
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I don't know either band. I've heard of them and researched them, but have not heard them. Which of the two is more accessible and symphonic? ------------- Best of 2006 that I've heard: PFM-Stati Di Immaginazione Zenit-Surrender (Best "unknown" album) Oaksenham - Conquest of Pacific 2007: Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon La Torre Del Alchimista - Neo |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 08:39
Hmm. none really. Both have a clear influence from Univers Zero and Present and that "school".
As for accessibility, I'd say OE are the more accessbile, relative to Ahvak that is.
Anyway, for Symphonic stuff, I made other threads and I'll make some more soon.
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