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HALMA

Post Rock/Math rock • Germany


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Halma picture
Halma biography
A Hamburg-based act HALMA were founded in 1999 firstly as a classically formed rock quartet by Thorsten CARSTENS (guitars, voices), Andreas VOẞ (guitars, bass), Fiona McKENZIE (drums, percussion, guitars), and Anna BERTERMANN (bass, synthesizers, voices), and soon they've improved their sound style and structure inspired by loops or electronic. Their debut album "Container Verloren Und Gesunken" was released as a compact disc upon their own in 2000. Later HALMA have signed a contract with a German independent label Sunday Service, and in 2006 their third opus "Back To Pascal" was out via Sunday Service.

In 2018 Anna left the combo for developing her own musical way, and Gundi VOIGT has replaced Anna as a bassist.

HALMA Videos (YouTube and more)


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HALMA discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

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

4.00 | 1 ratings
Container Verloren Und Gesunken
2000
4.00 | 1 ratings
Minifield
2003
3.10 | 2 ratings
Back To Pascal
2006
3.10 | 2 ratings
Broad Peak
2008
4.00 | 1 ratings
Dissolved Solids
2011
5.00 | 1 ratings
Granular
2015
5.00 | 1 ratings
The Ground
2019
3.67 | 3 ratings
Driving by Numbers
2024

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

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

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

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

HALMA Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Broad Peak by HALMA album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.10 | 2 ratings

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Broad Peak
Halma Post Rock/Math rock

Review by Lewian
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Broad Peak is the other Halma album that I have, apart from the predecessor Back to Pascal that I have reviewed before. What the two albums have in common is the minimalist meditative post rock approach with much repetition and slow development, and the generally slow to medium relaxed speed. Both albums are largely instrumental with singing used only very economically on one track.

Broad Peak is the more relaxed positive daylight mood album, whereas Back to Pascal is the darker one. Particularly, Broad Peak has more conventional if calm and relaxed bass lines as opposed to the super low frequency static bass of Pascal. Broad Peak has somewhat more variation, it isn't that much dominated by a sound concept as is Pascal, but that isn't really difficult, and surely it doesn't mean Peak is a very varied album by general standards.

Regarding the quality of the tracks, Broad Peak is also more varied. I love Tracks 1, 2, and 8, Folden Fog, Opal, and Pacific Telegram. On these the band comes up with delicate tasteful melodic motifs that have an addictive quality. The other tracks, although all nice to listen to, seem less inspired. Maybe Formed in a Vacuum is the next best, the one with most development and dynamic on the album. Some others are so smooth and calm, they don't give the listener anything to put their teeth into. It's all enjoyable as a background but I'd really only put the album on for the three to four named tracks.

Overall I end up with the same 3 star rating as for Pascal, but here some stuff is higher, some lower, whereas Pascal is very consistent. And remember, 3 means "good but non-essential", if I give 3 stars it surely deserves the "good" label, so if relaxed post rock is your kind of thing, try this one out.

 Back To Pascal by HALMA album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.10 | 2 ratings

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Back To Pascal
Halma Post Rock/Math rock

Review by Lewian
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Halma are one of a fairly big number of German post rock bands from that generation (starting around 2000), most of which are not listed here. Maybe Halma qualified by more longevity and stamina than most of their contemporaries; musically I'm not sure they hold as much attraction for the prog fan as some others from that bunch (such as Ilse Lau). That is not to say they are not good. They have their own characteristic way of doing things, which may appeal to some. It's just that complexity, virtuosity, and intricate composition are not exactly their hallmark (which is all fine for post rock fans, but it's the kind of post rock that normally has difficulties to enter the prog quarters).

In fact, Back to Pascal is a very minimalist album. It is all about sound and atmosphere. The tracks are very repetitive, with an intentionally slow speed of rhythm and slow development. It's a very relaxed and relaxing music, but not light and happy; it uses a sound palette that rather evokes twilight or even the darker hours. There is a very deep bass tone that dominates things, mostly running monotonously through the tracks, very economical light touch drums (evoking Lee Harris on the last Talk Talk albums) that occasionally gain a bit of speed and intensity through the tracks, equally economical guitar playing, and tastefully woven in keyboard and sound effects that only appear in the background, as is the very occasional use of voice - keeping in mind that there isn't really much of a foreground for that background.

This music surely has its qualities for the right listener in the right kind of mood. Personally I can enjoy it from time to time, however there isn't enough variety for me to get really enthusiastic about it. Now of course the lack of variety is to some extent intentional; the one million dollar question is how much of that do you want even in intentionally monotonous music? It's 2.9 stars keeping in mind what most prog fans are looking for, but don't let yourself be put off if you're up for this kind of thing! It is special, no doubt.

Thanks to dAmOxT7942 for the artist addition.

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