Ensemble Nimbus

Key Figures (APM 9403 AT)

I've had this one near the top of my play list for a couple of months now, so what can I tell you about ENSEMBLE NIMBUS? Not a lot really, they appear to be almost as enigmatic as Faust, as complex as Art Zoyd and as dark as Univers Zero... with the eccentricity of Etron Fou and Zamla Mammaz Manna too! So yes they could easily be described as a member of the second generation of RIO (Rock In Opposition, the European art-rock association). These are compositional influences only, since the sound produced by the keyboards and electric percussion that they employ is clearly modern. The vocals to a non-Scandinavian are reminiscent of Zamla. The overall amalgam is distinctive and unique, with skyrocketing guitar and violin crescendos and baleful bass clarinet and electric bass pulses, Zeuhl like the densest Univers Zero. Explosive electronic percussion bursts forth everywhere from a sharp mix making good use of the tonal depth provided by the CD format, if this was a vinyl LP the stylus would shatter! The percussionist is a link with the first generation RIO bands, in that he is Hasse Bruniusson who with Lars Hollmer was one of the leaders of Zamla Mammaz Manna. His very personal drumming with Ensemble Nimbus is a direct continuation from his exploratory work in the seventies.

Hâkan Almkvist's Zeuhl rock guitar sound is exquisite. Some of the other musicians add their folk influences making every tune a musical voyage. As the band's name implies, many things are happening in this burning cloud of music. There is a very strong spirit of research and yet a clear feeling that the European folk roots must be preserved. It's one of those albums that you could play several times a day, for week after week, endlessly discovering new twists and nuances. Perhaps, like Zappa's 'Freak Out' there is a feeling that everything had to be put into the album. But also, as Vander says elsewhere in this issue, a musician must put everything into it body and soul. These guys are really working hard here and deserve to be listened to, repeatedly! They will be touring Europe this year so look out for Ensemble Nimbus on their travels. This is the third album from APM Records and it is as essential as the KULTIVATOR and MYRBEIN releases.