Oaksenham [Armenia]

Updated 5/7/03
Discography
Woden's Eve Live (02)

Reviews

Oaksenham is an Armenian symphonic prog band whose sole release, Woden's Eve Live captures a concert performance in June of 2002. They are a six-piece band playing traditional guitar, bass, drums and keyboards augmented by a flutist and violinist. Their style reminds me quite a bit of early Camel, due to the way flute is used, but also in the overall feel.

There's some of the gentle, "verdant countryside" feel of Jethro Tull's more pastoral offerings, and also a bit of classical counterpoint stylings á la Gentle Giant (in fact there's a nicely-done GG tribute cut, "Talybont / Three Friends" on this album). In addition to this, there's some fusiony guitar, bass and drum sections and folkish violin work. They have a really nice easy to listen to sound, but don't ever fall into sounding new-agey or "easy listening". But overall, if I had to compare them to only one other band, it would be early Focus (but without any yodeling), though the flute playing is more like Andy Latimer's than Thijs Van Leer's.

The recording quality on this CD is excellent for a live album, and the music is all well orchestrated and expertly performed instrumental arrangements.

There's a nice, wide variety of musical styles on this recording, yet it always sounds like the same band, not like they don't know who they want to be.

This would have been an excellent concert to be in attendence at, and I'm sure the Armenian prog community was highly enthused by this performance. It's not like Armenia is a hotbed of prog action or anything, though this band is associated with the other Armenian prog band I'm aware of, Artsruni, via the manager, Arman Padaryan.

I can only hope their success spawns further prog action in Armenia.

One of the main reasons I bring up Padaryan's name is that I don't know how to tell you to get a copy of Woden's Eve Live other than by e-mailing  him at cadence@arminco.com . It's unlikely you'll find this album at any of the usual distribution sources, and Oaksenham do not have any web presence I've been able to find. But for fans of mellow melodic prog, this album
is a must, so if you're among them, try to contact Padaryan. I hope you have better luck with getting the CD from Armenia to where you live than I did, though ... my package went through some really strange surreal adventures I can only guess at on its way to me.

But that's another story.

Fred Trafton
www.gepr.net