L Herba d Hamelí

L Herba d Hamelí is probably an unknown name to most of you. Their blend of jazz, Camel and prog folk (think Jethro Tull holed up in a jazz bar in New Orleans) though should appeal to most progheads and other readers of PA. On their latest album, they even ventured into symphonic prog. 

Their PA biography page can be found here. Their first two albums (and an unreleased album) is free downloads from here and their third album has just been released too and is available from here. 

After listening to their albums for a while, I seriously believe this band is onto something great. I therefore got in touch with Guillem Roma in L Herba d Hamelí for more information about this exiting band.

As per usual again, my questions are in bold and Guillem Roma answers are in red italic bold

Take it away !!

I am not a Spanish/Catalan speaker so excuse me for asking questions which is properly answered in your own language at your website. Where was L Herba D Hameli formed and by whom ? Why did you choose that name  and what does it mean in English ? What were your musical visions/ideas?

L’Herba d’Hameli was founded in 2001 in the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. The initial members were: Albert Nardi, Llibert Ribo, Daniel Fabre and Guillem Roma.

The name was inspired in the story of the Flautist of Hamelin and the translation to English is Hamelin’s Grass.

At the begginig, we started making covers of Jethro Tull.

What is L Herba D Hameli ? A folk rock band or some musicians who 
play music ?

At this moment, is a progressive rock band very compact, we are one team, one mind.

I know from the Spanish history that Spain more or less is, like 
Italy, a “collection” of old kingdoms. Is therefore your band a Catalan
band or a Spanish band? Are your lyrics written in Catalan or Spanish?

We are a Catalan band because we live in Catalonia and we speak and sing in Catalan because is our own language.

I have read that you are one of many bands in the Catalan scene. 
Please tell us more about this scene and the music scene in general in
Barcelona and Catalunya (which is up in the north- eastern corner of
Spain, bordering to France and the French Riveria, just to help those of you who are geographic challenged).

In Catalunya are different bands like Gurth, Urban Trapeze, Planeta Imaginario and Albatros that forms a underground and unknown scene.

In general, most of these bands are influenced by the “rock laieta” scene from the 70’s in Barcelona.

Please tell us more about the debut album La Dansa De Les Rates. The 
recording, lyrics, the musicians, the artwork, the tracks.........

It was the first work, we were very young (21 years old). It was a conceptual album about the story of the Flautist of Hamelin. Each song explains a piece of the story.

The musicians were Albert Nardi, Llibert Ribo, Daniel Fabre and Guillem Roma.

Please tell us more about the second album Cançons de casa sons de  
carrer. The recording, lyrics, the musicians, the artwork, the
tracks.........

With this second album we made covers of popular songs from Catalonia. The musicians were Albert Nardi, Llibert Ribo, Jordi Marquillas, Carles Pinos, Daniel Fabre and Guillem Roma.

Your third recording L'Aplec Dels Bojos is not officially released 
although you have made it available as a download album. I think it is a
good album and nothing you should be ashamed of.
But what is your take on this ? Is it an album or not ?
Please also give us the full story about the recording, lyrics, the 
musicians, the artwork, the tracks.........

When we were recording the album, 3 members of the band left it and it affected the band and we never have released this album.

In this album we started to mix folk with progressive rock and we used new instruments like bagpipes.

The musicians were Albert Nardi, Llibert Ribo, Jordi Marquillas, Carles Pinos, Daniel Fabre and Guillem Roma.

Please tell us more about the third/fourth album Inversa Visual. The 
recording, lyrics, the musicians, the artwork, the tracks.........

After the leave of 3 members of the band, Vanenti Pinos, Ricard Rius a Guida Maymo come to the band and we recorded this progressive rock album named Inversa Visual.

The artwork is based in different pictures of the artist VenturaMur and the lyrics were written by Ricard Rius.

The music is composed by l’Herba d’Hameli.

The album only has 4 tracks but the total time is 40 minutes!

For us, this is the best album of the band and we have sold copies around the world.

Inversa Visual is released on a record label while the previous 
albums was self-released. Is this right ? How is the income and business
side of your band's records ? Is L Herba D Hameli a proper living or do
you have other daytime jobs ?

Inversa Visual is a self-released album like the others.

We have recorded and produced the album, Guillem Roma was the sound technician.

We sell our albums via internet (see www.herbahameli.cat).

L’Herba d’Hameli is an amateur band because is very complicated to live with the progressive rock.

You have had a quite a musical development from La Dansa De Les 
Rates from to Inversa Visual. How would you describe this development ?
How is your fans reaction to Inversa Visual which is quite a radical
departure from your folk rock roots ?

The evolution of the band is according the musicians that comes and go from the band. We started with folk music and at this moment we play progressive rock.

We think that the reaction of our public regarding Inversa Visual is better in comparison with the others albums.

You have done a lot of gigs. Please tell us more about your band, 
live and the reception your gigs has received. Do you have any live
recordings locked away in your vaults ?

In general, our concerts has little public because progressive rock is not a commercial music.

We have shared stage with like Atila or Mick Pointer’s Marillion.

We have recorded some concerts but we haven’t released it .We have a cover of Camel (Feefall) in our myspace (www.myspace.com/herbahameli).

What is the plans for Is L Herba D Hameli this year and in the 
future ? Gigs or any new albums ? You are going to keep us in
ProgArchives updated on any news and gigs, you promise us ?

We are composing new songs and perhaps we will release a new album at the end of this year.

In March and April we will perform in Barcelona, you can ve updated on our myspace or web.

Anything you want to add to this interview ?

Yes, at this moment, we are in the final for Best Foregin Record of the Progawards 2009 in Italy. http://progawards.it/Progawards/index.php?page=pafibfr

Thank you to Guillem Roma for this update on a band which should get a bigger audience this year. Both in ProgArchives and among other music lovers. Their first albums is both free downloads and is well worth the effort. Their third album Inversa Visual is available for a handful of Euros and is an album which superbly bridges the symphonic prog and prog folk gap.

L Herba d Hamelí may be the find of 2010. But in any case, their music is excellent and that is all that matters.