Om (band)

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Om
Om (band) .jpg
General information
Genre (s) Stoner Rock , Psychedelic Rock , Stoner Doom , Ambient
founding 2004
Founding members
Al Cisneros
Chris Hakius (until 2008)
Current occupation
Al Cisneros
Emil Amos (since 2008)

Om is an experimental stoner rock or psychedelic rock band that was founded by former or still partially active members of the band Sleep .

history

Om was founded in 2004 by Alberto Cisneros (bass, vocals) and Chris Hakius (drums).

Om recorded their debut album Variations On A Theme in 2004, followed by Conference Of The Birds in autumn 2006 , which only contains 2 songs. The album Pilgrimage , consisting of 4 tracks, was released in 2007. They then went on tour in the United States and Europe and also in Jerusalem . At the beginning of 2008 the drummer Chris Hakius left the band and was replaced by Emil Amos.

style

The main elements of Om are bass, drums and vocals. In God is Good or Advaitic Songs , however, cello, violin, tambura (effects), tabla or flute were also used. Advaitic Songs is mostly calm, oriental, subtle and melodic. The singing is similar to a mantra , but in most songs it sounds similar to a spoken chant, which is usually associated with a single, main pitch of the bass guitar. The lyrics are aimed at transcendence and describe abstract, cosmic as well as nature-mystical or spiritual metaphysical categories, ideas and events. The texts can be compared with abstract reflections that are structured by rhythm. No value is placed on rhymes or the like.

Al Cisneros emphasized that the singing works rhythmically rather than grammatically. The lyrics should aim mainly on a conceptual and internal basis, which he freely drafted during his break at that time, as well as written for the instrumental.

Since God is Good , or Emil Amos' entry as a drummer, the music has taken on more diversity and virtually opposes the works of that time. The drumming uses more fine accents and faster drum fills than the usual nasty and constant style of Chris Hakius.

In most of the current live concerts, Robert AA Lowe (Lichens) accompanies the band with tambourine, guitar, keyboard, vocals or background effects.

bass

Al Cisneros almost exclusively plays bass guitars from the manufacturer Rickenbacker , sample models Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo and Rickenbacker 4003 Jetglo . He is also known for his use of Green Amps tube amps and speakers. In Advaitic Songs , Cisneros used a 5-string for the first time, also from the Rickenbacker brand.

Particularly decisive for Cisneros' sound is the use of hypnotic, gritty, dark distortion effects, which are not, however, substitutes for distorted electric guitars. The slow way of playing, often on one string, has a hypnotic effect and at the same time gives the feeling of intensely booming rock music. In every song there is a main pitch that the song is based on.

Already at their first jam the band realized that no other instrument besides bass, drums and vocals was necessary. There would also be more flexibility and control during the creation process and the performance of the songs. The songwriting corresponds between the members and the instruments and always begins with inner listening.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 2005: Variations On A Theme
  • 2006: Conference of the Birds
  • 2007: Pilgrimage
  • 2009: God is Good
  • 2012: Advaitic Songs

more publishments

  • 2006: Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun ( split EP with Current 93 )
  • 2006: Om / Six Organs of Admittance (Split- 7`` )
  • 2008: Gebel Barkal (single)
  • 2008: Live At Jerusalem (live album)
  • 2009: Conference Live (live album)
  • 2019: "BBC Radio 1" (live album)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Concert report Berliner Zeitung
  2. ^ "Such Hawks Such Hounds" documentary ( Memento from August 21, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ^ "Such Hawks Such Hounds" ( Memento from August 21, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ↑ Om "When is a song done?"
  5. ^ "Blog San Diego Interview"