FIREBIRD

I have only recently sampled Gazpacho's style of neo prog music but I am glad that I did! Having purchased all three albums I have listened to them all almost non stop for the past week!

Firebird is definitely the best release by this band. Starting with Vulture, which opens with delicate vocals and guitar and sieges into hand organ and electronic sounds overlaid by a haunting bass and thumping drum. The song builds to a crescendo with a great chorus / vocal hook before the electronic sounds play out to the end.

Symbols starts again with delicate vocals and guitar and then becomes a classic rocker with another catchy chorus with some lovely contrasting backing vocals.

Swallow begins with fragile piano and vocals. The drum machine joins before violins accompany the chorus. Strings then run through the song verse before the chorus again, this time to real drums.

Orion is the albums two part centre piece. Piano and vocal lead verse is followed by guitars for the bridge and chorus. The chorus is another vocal treat with Jan Ohme's voice soaring across the range followed by string arrangements and synthesisers. The song gets quite heavy towards the latter half of the first part before fading to electronic noises and drums. Part two is organ noises before 1.10 minutes in we are treated to guitar and fragile vocals again. This becomes heavy guitar and pained vocals distorted and then a return to acoustic guitar to fade.

Prisoner starts as a more straight forward rock song. Lush vocals, guitar and synths with orchestral backdrop. Great stuff!

Jezebel is another slow burner with soft vocals, sparse piano and drums. About a third of the way into the song it becomes an aggressive guitar driven song before calming down for the last third.

Black Widow starts as a slow rock song before the guitars kick in for the chorus which again features Ohme's soaring range and a chorus which is beautifully catchy. 'You are so blind/ the perfect crime...'

The title track, Firebird, is a moody piece reminiscent of Hogarth era Marillion with delicate vocals and a dark subject matter. The song slowly builds as the band create a soundscape which is by turns dramatic, dark and harsh. Ohmes vocals are a true beauty to listen to. Pain and anguish seem to overflow and then regret replaces the emotional outpouring of the chorus. The final third of the song is the climax to this dark journey and it is well worth taking this trip!

Do you know what you are saying? This is another song filled with regret and pain with a vocal which could easily have come off a Muse album. This song also marks a departure for the band in one very definate way. After a lovely violin solo, a 30+ second guitar solo marks this song out. Over three albums tha band have resolutely resisted the urge to put in a solo. However this one fits the song perfectly. If there is a complaint, it is because it is over so quickly! On the plus side it is provided by one of the best technically gifted guitarists in the Prog world - Steve Rothery!

Once in a lifetime is the closing track. In keeping with much of Firebird it is another moody piece with beautiful, lush vocals over an expertly crafted soundscape.

This is my album of the year so far. In my opinion, it should be in everyones record collection and is an essential purchase.

After two (really) good tries, Gazpacho has finally made a masterpiece here. Firebird is a record that i'll be playing for years and years to come. Why? It's one of the most emotional, haunting and beautiful trips through music I've ever heard.

Starting off with the title track, the dark moody tone is set, and it won't go away anymore. The organ in this song is perfect, and so are the haunting vocals.

Then the highlights are following each other quickly. Orion, which is split in two parts, has some very nice instrumental electronical passages, the background vocals in Prisoner give me goosebumps everytime, Jezebel is a beautiful ballad (though they all are in some way I guess) and Do You Know What You Are Saying? is a beautiful song that captures the best of Muse and Gazpacho together.

Overall, this is the best prog album of the year. Don't believe me? Too bad for you, you're missing out on something brilliant.

Yawn.

I heard so many Marillion/ Radiohead wannabes; I think it's the new fangled way. Are they in lack of inspiration or they just don't belong in the right category?

Ah Ha! Maybe that's the weird feeling! To me, this is not progressive. or it's as progressive as The Doves or the Notwist or maybe Radiohead.

And frankly, what if it's not butter? Is it good or not? Compared to the real stuff, this pales in terms of innovation and melody. It's not that it's bad, it's just flat guitars and tortured melancholic atmosphere and same old same old isn't my cup of tea anymore; we saw too much of it in the past years. Hey, get the Mp3 and see for yourself before buying, because many of you liked the Marbles album and such.

For lack of hooks and not much replay value...: Count me out on that one.

Firebird is a great album. Everything that I've heard from this band is excellent. This is certinly no masterpiece, but it is exceptionally good. I highly reccomend Gazpacho to any fan of mellow, dreamy, atmospheric prog. They are one of the best prog bands of today.

I have to say that the album Night is much better than this one and if you had never heard Gazpacho before, you should start with that album.

I was reminded of U2, RADIOHEAD,MUSE and Hogarth led MARILLION while listening to this disc. I almost wish I had heard this one before the "Night" album because I might have liked it more, I don't know though.This one has really only one guitar solo as the electronic sounds dominate in this experimental "Kid A" influenced album. The follow up release "Night" just seemed to flow better, of course it is a concept album but it just seems like everything about it is better than this one. This record has some great moments though and the song writing is very well done.

"Vulture" is a dark and gloomy song with violin. I really like the first lyric line "I leave the gate and close the door. And when it rains it really pours". "Symbols" is one of my favourites. The backing female vocals from Nina are a nice touch. This is a repetitive but catchy tune that is all about the vocals. Good energy to this song. "Swallows" is slower paced with some piano and the soundscape reminds me of PORTISHEAD at times. "Orion (I & II)" is another great tune with the vocals standing out on the first part and the full sound 2 minutes in on the second part being a highlight.

"Prisoner" sounds like a single that was released by an alternative band in the nineties. "Jezebel" has a Post-Rock feel to the guitar half way through but it's the earlier heaviness that I like. The vocals don't do much for me on this track though. "Black Widow" has a good chorus while the title track "Firebird" is a better song with a dark and heavy atmosphere. He sings "Hallelujah" six times during this tortured song. "Do You Know What You Are Saying" has piano throughout and violin 4 minutes in, but it's the guitar solo from Steve Rothery that steals the show on this song. "Once In A Lifetime" provides a melancholic ending to this album.

Favourite songs for me are "Symbols" and "Firebird" with "Orion (I & II)" and "Do You Know What You Are Saying" as runner ups. 3.5 stars.

ONE STEP BEFORE PERFECTION

With the release of Firebird, Gazpacho was already showing the stunning band they are, but they were a bit short of what in 2007 would become their best work: Night. Anyway, Firebird is a very good attempt and just the natural step to achieve higher goals. Known by some people as just a copy of other bands pointed many times (Radiohead, Marillion, Talk Talk, etc.), i think Gazpacho has already earned their own credit, and started to be more remarkable in this record, which had shown a progress and that would be developed even more with their next cd.

Nevertheless, is almost impossible to totally erase one of their main influences: Marillion, and that´s pretty obvious because they have always been supported by the English band, even selling the cd´s in their web site and collaborating in the recordings, in this case we have Steve Rothery playing in "Do you know what you are saying", and that just makes a thighter bond between them.

The production of the album is superb as with most of them, and the songwriting is excellent with the now distinctive piano/keyboard- violin-soundscapes used also a lot in Night. The beginning is really haunting with "Vulture"and its scapes and effects flowing nicely along the song."Symbols" starts smoothly with acustic guitar and then the drums and piano with guitar introduce us to nice vocal duo by Jan Henrik O. and Nina Morvedt, which flashes during the track with excellent guitar riffs and drumming. "Swallow" is a mellow piece very atmospheric with a loop drum-like all along, not very prog but nice. The start of "Orion I" changes the mood with a strong intro and soon slowing down to a semi- acustic track with ocasional guitar riffs and nice keyboards. "Orion II" is a short track but changes dramaticly a few times going from the sound effects intro to become acustic and then loud to return to the acustics. "Prisioner" is a more alternative oriented track with a popish style and nice backing vocals. "Jezebel" is a spacey song with different moods and good guitar, and piano sparks at the end. "Black Widow" continues with the journey through dark atmospheres rich in sounds combined with fiery guitars. The title track is very special for me because is the one that introduced me to this fantastic band, agreat tune with alot of things going on: dramatic vocals, acustics, piano,soundscapes, bells ringing and punching guitar. Now is when the awaited "Do you know what are you saying" arrives" with the S.Rothery solo. A mellow track with some electronics and beautiful violin to finaly lead to Mr.Rothery's 'goose bumper' guitar. The end couldn´t be better than with a melancholic moment given by "Once In A Lifetime", a real breathtaking song.

This album contains the first songs i ever heard from the band and i think is a good idea to be the 1st album you listen to if you don´t know this Norwegian act, that way you can leave the best for last, which is Night. And if you know the band but haven´t heard this one, i would highly recomend it, their second best.

4 stars

Viva el Prog!

I wonder why this band has been noticed only with their “Night” album. I have opportunity to listen to other albums of them, but I ain’t expecting anything challenging or revelation-like there either. “Firebird” is the same way moody record as “Night”, with RADIOHEADesque moaning instead of vocals, some nice melodic hooks and violin solos. Depressing Prog-related Modern Rock, inspired by H’s MARILLION. The only thing is that longest track on “Firebird” is shorter than the shortest from “Night” :) Got the point? If you want to make a Prog album, do epics. Recommended for those who enjoyed “Night”.

This is no major step forward for this Norwegian band. They are still producing some dull Marillion Mark II tracks, which they combine with a severe attraction for Radiohead/Muse oriented music: like during the very good Vulture which is the opener.

Most songs are on the pop and short side. Some melodies are crafted (Symbols) but the languish mood available on their debut EP is also available unfortunately. During these moments, Marillion Mark II is striking back (Swallow, Black Widow and Firebird).

The Muse feeling is back again (but this is a constant with Gazpacho) with the soft rock ballad Orion I & II. The nice instrumental closing the first part is one of the very few available on this album and is quite moving to be honest. This is one of the best songs.

This album includes some very average songs (four in total: you can add Jezebel to the three Marillion Mark II ones), and it doesn't hold a lot of prog elements IMHHO. Some good tracks as well appear like the catchy pop-rock (Prisoner). But there aren't really much here. Do You Know What You Are Saying has a fine guitar break to highlight the mellow mood but can't really save the track.

This album is still better than its predecessor When Earth Lets Go. But this was an easy task. Two stars.

Firebird is the 3rd full-length studio album by Norwegian alternative/ progressive rock act Gazpacho. The album was released in 2005 by Intact.

The music on the album continues down the same melancholic alternative rock road as was the case on the two albums that came before this one. Jan Henrik Ohme´s emotional vocals delivery is the center of attention but he is backed up by a well playing and atmosphere creating cast of musicians. The production is warm and suits the music well. Gazpacho are one of those acts who are able to create emotional and sentimental songs to make your heart break. When it works it works wonders but there are unfortunately tracks on the album that I would call filler material too and that´s not a plus in my book. Especially considering that there are only 10 tracks on the album.

Firebird isn´t the most innovative album out there but if you enjoy warm, melancholic alternative rock with a lead vocalist who wear his emotions on his sleeve, this might be an album for you. I think the last album promised a lot and I expected that promise to be delivered here on Firebird, but I can´t say I think that´s what happened. Firebird is a good album but it too seldom reaches excellence in my book and a 3 star rating is warranted.

Gazpacho continue the fine traditionthan Norweigan musiciabs have for stretching the boundries of genres; whwter ir be Jazz, post-rock or anything else.

album no3 - as good as the first two This is an imaginative band, with a myriad of influences filtered and distilled tocreateaunique musicalf orm of their own. We have a warm, emotive vocalist together withtalenred muscians who are capable of weaving a unique sonic tapestry. No doubt, those of you whohavelistend willhereamyriadof influences and/or comparisons withotherbands pat and present..... I hear some similarities withother artists on the K-Scope 'Post-progresive' label ...and hear hints of many other conteporaryacts too - listen for yourself - many peoples eem to pickout unusua lcomparisons when listening to this unusual scandinavian act .... who manage to still maintain ordinary lives with full-time jobs alongside producing some wonderful music

Firebird starts with the haunting "Vulture" which delivers an excellent vocal performance by Jan- Henrik. I notice that the band again makes use of the "funny" instrument, but luckily it didn't distract from the song. Nice opener. This is followed by "Symbols" which is the first Gazpacho track I hear with some female vocals and adds a nice touch to the song. Next best must be Prisoner.

Must say that this is an improvement from the two prior releases by the band and the enjoyment factor doubled. After Prisoner the album settles in a nice relaxing mode. The title track compliments the Gazpacho sound.

Solid 3½ stars for this fine attempt.