Russian Prog Appreciation Thread

THE GOURISHANKAR — 2nd Hands

Here’s another interesting Russian formation after Little Tragedies, Infront, Aviva, Lost World and Apple Pie: The Gourishankar, what an exciting prog! The sound of this Russian four piece band (with additional guest musicians on violin, saxophone, flute and backing vocals) is a Pandora’s Box of musical surprises.

Take for example the first composition entitled Moon7: first a fluent rhythm with heavy organ, fast synthesizer runs, Allan Holdsworth inspired guitar work, powerful guitar riffs and propulsive drumming, in between a swinging piano and suddenly a violin solo or a Spanish guitar with percussion, “never a dull moment”! The other 7 tracks also deliver lots of variety, musical ideas and shifting moods: from swinging to bombastic featuring pleasant work on guitar and keyboards, propulsive guitar riffs, a sparkling piano solo and fiery guitar in Endless Drama, classical piano and violin the short song Taste A Cake, a modern and electronic sound in The Inexpressive Chagrin (including theatrical vocal parts and a saxophone solo), End (a bit similar to Eighties elektro pop) and their ‘magnum opus’ Marvelous Choice (almost 20 minutes): an electronic intro, then bombastic symphonic prog with fiery guitar, followed by lots of shifting moods, nice musical ideas and pleasant keyboard work, from classical piano to flashy synthesizer flights, very dynamic and exciting!

My conclusion about The Gourishankar their varied music: it often sounds exciting and captivating but often the music goes into all directions, like from Seventies Prog to Eighties Elektro Pop, you have to be up to that huge variety!