Beardfish are a 4 piece from Sweden and play progressive rock of the highest quality. Excellent
musicianship on songs with many twists and turns, though not complex in the way Dream Theater are for example. Their sound whilst displaying many characteristics of classic 70's Prog has their own style bringing it up to date for the 21st Century. They were founded in Gävle in 2001, and disbanded in 2016 due to "various issues". They won the Local Band of the Year award in Swedish newspaper Arbetarbladet's competition Local Heroes Galan, 2011.
Beardfish were formed by guitarist David Zackrisson and singer, guitarist, keyboardist Rikard
SJÖBLOM. The group includes bassist Robert Hansen and drummer Magnus Östgren. The first album was recorded as a quintet with Stefan Aronsson on keyboards and flute. Their primary influences are a diverse range of Zappa, King Crimson, and Gentle Giant.
In 2008, Beardfish toured with fellow progressive rock band The Tangent. The following year they
were scheduled to tour North America during the summer as part of Progressive Nation, a tour organized by Dream Theater's then-drummer Mike Portnoy; however, they were forced to withdraw from this event after InsideOut lost funding because its distributor, SPV, declared bankruptcy.
In July 2016, the band announced they had broken up. On September 15th, 2023, the Asker
Culture House of Asker, Norway announced in a Facebook post that Beardfish would be playing at The Chronicles of Father Robin festival—taking place May 24th and 25th, 2024. This would be the first time they performed since 2015. At the time, it was unclear whether or not the band had reformed, or if it was simply a reunion show. The band have also shared a picture of them in the studio on their new Instagram page.
The group should be checked out by anyone looking for a good solid modern Art Rock group. If you
have the chance.. see this group live. Ask anyone in attendance in Chapel Hill on ProgDay06, they stole the show. They will grab you and not let go. Strongly recommended.
CLASSIC LINE - UP
Rikard Sjöblom - vocals, guitars, keyboards (2001–2016)
David Zackrisson - guitars (2001–2016)
Magnus Östgren - drums (2001–2016)
Robert Hansen - bass (2002–2016)
EARLY MEMBERS
Gabriel Olsson - bass (2001-2002)
Petter Diamant - drums (2001)
Stefan Aronsson - keyboards, guitars, flute (2002-2003)
TOURING MUSICIANS
Martin Borgh - keyboards (2015)
BEARDFISH - THE SANE DAY 2005
The Sane Day is a more ambitious outing.. this time down to a four piece with Rikard taking keyboard
duties. A 'double' album released 2005 that might be seen a conceptual, though they deny it. The growth in the group musically is apparent, and is a good album. Seems to be a concept album about a guy who goes into seclusion ("Sun Is The Devil") after his girlfriend breaks up with him ("A Love Story"). He decides to go back to the town he grew up in ("Mudhill") and on his way he stops at a place called Gooberville, and the story continues from there.
Beardfish are a pretty unique band. With so many post seventies Prog bands trying to sound like the
seventies Prog giants it's refreshing to hear a band with a bit of originality to their sound. Having said that, paradoxically they do sound like they've stepped right out of the seventies but that's more to do with the overall sound and instrumentation of the band rather than sounding like anyone in particular. Their music is very quirky; Zappa comes to mind at times and whilst this music is firmly in the Progressive Rock camp they appear not afraid to show their Pop influences too.
Beardfish – The Sane Day
Label: Not On Label (Beardfish Self-released) – BEARD001/002
Format: 2 x CD, Album
Country:Sweden
Released: 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
DISC 1.
01. A Love Story 12:47
02. Sun Is The Devil (Flute – Rasmus Diamant) 2:08
03. Mudhill 5:39
04. The Gooberville Ballroom Dancer 6:57
05. Igloo On Two 6:31
06. Tall Tales 9:25
07. The Basic Blues 5:18
08. The Summit 7:10
DISC 2.
01. The Sane Day 6:06
02. Blue Moon 4:37
03. Do You Remember Fun Mom 1:25
04. Return To Mudhill 4:46
05. Waiting Room 4:37
06. Miss Gooberville 0:33
07. Mystique Of The Beauty Queen 7:02
08. Love Revisited 2:50
09. Ask Someone Who Knows 7:54
10. Now 6:39
11. The Reason Of Constructing And/Or Building A Pyramid Vocals – Christer Jägerlund, Lisa Marklund
9:32
LINE - UP
Robert Hansen - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Magnus Östgren - Drums
David Zackrisson - Guitar [Right Speaker], Synthesizer, Vocals, Effects [Live Sfx]
Rikard Sjöblom - Vocals, Guitar [Left Speaker], Organ, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Percussion
Written-By – Rikard Sjöblom
NOTES
Disc one, songs 1,2 and disc two, songs 9,10 were recorded at the Overlook studio w.17 2004. Remixed 2005.
Disc one, songs 3-8 and disc two, songs 1,4-7,11 were recorded at The Horsewall during March 2005.
Disc two, songs 2,3,8 were recorded at Studio BlaRummet April 2005. Mixed at Big Lazy Sound.
Disc 1 Flac Size: 350 MB
Disc 2 Flac Size: 320 MB
BEARDFISH - SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC PART 1. 2007
After two independently released albums, Swedish quartet Beardfish are proud to release their strongest
effort yet ‘Sleeping in Traffic: Part One’ on InsideOut Music and open themselves up to a far broader audience. An audience which will no doubt be intrigued by the band’s retro sound. Beardfish have styled themselves after the big bands of the 70’s but they go far beyond their influences producing original and imaginative, progressive music with folk elements. There is no doubt that this band is breathing new life into the genre.
Beardfish were founded by guitarist David Zackrisson and multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and
songwriter Rikard Sjöblom back in 2001. Drummer Magnus Östgren and his school friend Robert Hansen, who just happens to be a “hell of a bass player” (Sjöblom), completed the line-up. In 2003 the band released their debut album ‘Från en plats du ej kan se…’ (“About a Place You Can’t See”). They soon began supporting fellow Swedish acts Paatos and Anekdoten on tour.
Their live performances built a solid reputation and the band’s debut album sold respectably well. Three years later, the double-album ‘The Sane Day’ was released to excellent reviews both inside and out of their homeland. ‘Sleeping In Traffic: Part One’ marks the band’s label debut and this time out, they
have opted for a slightly darker approach than in the past, featuring more acoustic elements and superior sound quality. It makes the listener enthusiastic with its reminiscences of Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa and the melodic Canterbury faction, in a way not heard before. “Maybe it’s because of our instruments”, says Rikard Sjöblom. “Clavinet, ARP synth, fuzz guitars. Of course we like Genesis and King Crimson and my faves are actually Gentle Giant and Zappa. It’s quite possible that this shines through in the song writing process”.
Beardfish’s music never gives the impression of being derivative of other bands, which is what makes
their music refreshing. These boys are hungry for creating music that would flatter those aforementioned artists. Their influences are originally and fluidly integrated into the overall context
of their sound which will amaze the listener. At times, the album feels like a reunion with old acquaintances albeit at an unsuspected place and unexpected time. “Sunrise”, with its rocking organ, recalls Hoelderlin, and intensifies to a psychedelic number much like Arthur Brown (‘Fire’).
There are some beautiful and complex guitar passages on ‘Afternoon Conversation’, such that haven’t been heard since the old Genesis days. The 12-minute ‘Roulette’ offers up soundscapes that bring to mind the likes of Supertramp or Camel until the central motif reminds the listener of the stark
loneliness that has been attributed to their Swedish contemporaries Paatos, with a hint of Zappa’s vocal stylings. The piano ballad ‘Dark Poet’ is eccentric in a Beatlesque kind of way, while ‘Harmony’ and ‘Year Of The Knife’ reminds you of the ingenuity that Gentle Giant were once famous for. The crowning moments come with ‘Without You’ and ‘Same Old Song’ with some Greg Lake styled indulgences and Steve Hillage psycho jazz.
Beardfish – Sleeping In Traffic: Part One
Label: Inside Out Music – IOMCD 277
Format: CD, Album
Country: Germany
Released: May 22, 2007
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
TRACKS
01. ...On The Verge Of Sanity 0:48
02. Sunrise 7:54
03. Afternoon Conversation 3:42
04. And Never Know 5:59
05. Roulette 12:07
06. Dark Poet 3:24
07. Harmony 7:21
08. The Ungodly Slob 6:43
09. Year Of The Knife 7:29
10. Without You 2:39
11. Same Old Song (Sunset) 7:51
Total playing time: 65'57"
LINE - UP
Rikard Sjöblom - Vocals, Guitar [Left Speaker], Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Accordion, Percussion
Robert Hansen - Bass
Magnus Östgren - Drums, Percussion, Vocals [Screaming]
David Zackrisson - Guitar [Right Speaker], Acoustic Guitar, Percussion
David Zackrisson - Tape Op – (tracks: 2 to 5, 7, 9, 11)
Written-By – Rikard Sjöblom
ROULETTE LYRICS
My skin's no shelter
"Emoticons" lie and I'm exposed
But my tears are all out
And dry eyes always hurt the most
I can lead my own life
There's no love, no love left here
Master of disguise
I've been in your sky and you weren't there
A motorcycle man
And Jesus was his name
He's out on His ride
Believe in Him and never die
His appearance is said
To have made Him live a life of shame
But pockets of humanity
Made them embrace the long haired man
And I envy them
But I won't follow rules
Made up thousands of years ago
And changed by hands of man
According to some current trend
So leave here while you can
Or answer to The Man
You know He's everywhere
Isn't that a scare?
You might also like
Dark Poet
(Beardfish)
And Never Know
(Beardfish)
Comfort Zone
(Beardfish)
I know that I won't change
And your faith is blind so you can't see
I know that things are never gonna change
I know that things are bound to stay the same
I know that things are never gonna change
And it will never change
And it will never change
And it will never change
This eternal night is mine
Feeble thoughts will feed the langoliers
Mammals of the pyramids
Goblins of our clouded past
Medieval times are back again
Killing in the name of God
Killing to preserve our precious peace
This forsaken path is mine
But my philosophy is yours to see
I'm not evil, I'm just being me
Winds may change, yet always blow
No one knows which way they'll go
Crucify or be crucified
Let's give understanding one more try
I can waste my life
There's no love, no love left here
Master of disguise
I've been in your sky and you weren't there
Leave here while you can
Or answer to The Man
You know He's everywhere
Isn't that a scare?
This forsaken path is mine
But my philosophy is yours to see
I'm not evil, I'm just being me
Winds may change, yet always blow
No one knows which way they'll go
Crucify or be crucified
Let's give understanding one more try
This eternal night is mine
Feeble thoughts will feed the langoliers
Mammals of the pyramids
Goblins of our clouded past
Medieval times are back again
Killing in the name of God
Killing to preserve our precious peace
See how they dance in the moonlight
Someone's laughing in the shadows
Something is making them dance
"Step right on up, folks!
Let's watch the spectacle of religious and political warfare
And it's what gonna kill us all…"
YEAR OF THE KNIFE LYRICS
I saw it happen way back in the days of my youth
The persecution and confusion, fear instead of love
They've killed so many that it's hard to really know who's left
Can it be that we're all dead… and beauty is the end?
This town is small, but it's filled with both love and hate
You seek some truth, you won't find it here
They're rolling stones up the hill, memories of those dead?
It scares me so, just to know, things can be this way
A reflection of this dying town
Would you go alone through the night?
(Don't walk alone through the night…)
Some say he's gone, but I think he's still here
He's a scapegoat, laughing in his nest, he just doesn't care
"Maybe I'm dead… So what? Beauty is the end"
The voyeur, spying a mind while at rage
Keep your distance, pose a good theory
Don't you wander off, my love? – don't go alone into the night
Flac Size: 403 MB
BEARDFISH - SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC PART 2. 2008
A very different band by every sense of the word, Beardfish has always excelled with the strange yet not so strange. Quirky yet serious, this eclectic band is definitely one to watch with this release. The
second part of their two part Sleeping In Traffic saga is a beast which demands attention. Rockish riffs mix with smooth keyboards, killer bass lines, a beating rhythm and excellent vocals to make something great. The best way to describe the band would be to take their two most talked about influences, (Frank Zappa like songwriting with a touch of King Crimson,) put them in a blender, hit purée, and watch what happens.
The concept over the two albums is this - 24 hours in a person's day. What does s/he see, do, and have
happen to them. The second part is the night, as evident by the ambient jangling of the opening intro As The Sun Sets. The night-time section may be expected to make the music more ''dark'', but while it does at parts, the music on the album is mostly upbeat and fun.
Something the band really excels at is just that - keeping the music fun. As evident in a song like South Of The Border, these guys have a sense of humor that they're able to work in well with their tunes as is
so rare in music these days with so many artists taking themselves very seriously. The previously mentioned song also has a wonderful riff and hard rock feel that propels it through the story like a hot knife through butter until it reaches its ironic breakdown which is (in a good way) laugh out loud funny. But of course, what better way to follow up a song like this but with a stellar, and quirky, instrumental such as the wonderful Cashflow.
Another excellent standout on the album is the rhythmic The Hunter, its instrumental opening couple of
minutes able to induce head bobbing in even the most critical ear. Backed by some floating guitars and synths the song presses finally into the vocals, which only make the song better with its catchy, almost sing along chorus and wonderful melodies.
Along the ''Darker'' side of things are a couple of songs. The opener Into The Night is still upbeat but is
able to bring in the feeling of night with its lyrics and breakdowns. The Downward Spiral/Chimay is likely the darkest song on the album however, and also the slowest. Creepy synths and guitars open up the song while the voice comes in to further that feeling. In the end, it's a great track that ends with a couple minutes of great instrumentalism.
The track that most prog heads will be waiting for, however, is the 35+ minute epic that the two albums were named after, Sleeping In Traffic. Starting and finishing with the same great riff this one is a trip of
massive proportions. Seemingly overlong the first couple times through, this one eventually catches on with its several excellent segments, and again, quirk. Truly a fun song as Beardfish would be expected to do, the song features a lot of different places and dream sequences as well as references that can keep just about anyone interested the whole way through. Shifting from strait up rock to toned down descriptor sections and winding instrumentals, this one certainly has been planned well by the band.
Then it ends as it began, the sun comes back up with Sunrise Again reprising the intro and taking the
album to its end. While it's definitely going to take a couple of listens to get used to the title track, this one is an excellent album which is worth repeated listens and any prog fan's time. It's hard to come up with many complaints with this one, other than the title track almost requires that one take time out of their day to hear it. Still a wonderful album which is recommended to all!
(By Queen By-Tor.)
Beardfish – Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two
Label: Inside Out Music – IOMCD 294
Format: CD, Album
Country: Germany
Released: 2008
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
TRACKS
01. As The Sun Sets 1:13
02. Into The Night 8:52
03. The Hunter 5:57
04. South Of The Border 7:43
05. Cashflow 6:08
06. The Downward Spiral/Chimay 7:10
07. Sleeping In Traffic 35:44
08. Sunrise Again 1:37
LINE - UP
Robert Hansen - Bass, Backing Vocals
Magnus Östgren - Drums, Backing Vocals
Rikard Sjöblom - Guitar [Left Speaker], Vocals, Organ, Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Acoustic Guitar, Accordion
David Zackrisson - Guitar [Right Speaker], Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
GREAT !!! Idon't know. Thank you Kostas.
ReplyDeleteI thought about whether i should publish these few lines at all and whether it would be worth drawing the heatred of many people towards me. Maybe these lines will also be censored ( i won't tell you Kostas). But that's just how i am, i do it.
The whole world celebredes the birthday of the 80-years-old- K. Richard-asshole. A greatly overrated guitarist and musician and ethical cripple. But what bothers me most is that all these ideots practice a kind of idolization of people. ( human idolization is something that degrades people).
I wish everyone who read these lines and is perhaps upset a nice day.
Hi. I send you a mail. Read it 😄
DeleteOk
DeleteI will do it, that is very pleasing my dear friend.
ReplyDelete