AIRBAG – Identity (2021 Remaster)
- Posted on 23-07-2021
Originally released back in 2009 but now remastered by the talented Jacob Holm-Lupo (The Opium Cartel, White Willow) and reissued by the ever-reliable Karisma Records, "Identity" was the debut album by the Oslo-based prog rockers Airbag. Now, the thing about this superb Norwegian group is that their grand, sweeping soundscapes are not that far removed from what David Gilmour and Pink Floyd have dabbled in from time to time and so their song material may be said to lend itself extremely well to an inner journey through haunting memories of loss, longing, and hope.
There is melodic complexity, intricate layers, and an almost ethereal vibe to be discovered here, but the record is neither abstract nor dense as such. It has always come across as a rather mature and well-developed output to these ears in terms of possessing its own identity and style. Airbag’s compositions are cinematic in scope and Holm-Lupo’s mastering has added more clarity and warmth to them. They sound crisp and pristine, but they strike me as being slightly more vibrant and organic than the original versions from 2009, which is pretty awesome. There are also a handful of subtle nuances that I had never really noticed before that now seem a little more present in the mix.
More breathtaking, adventurous, and playful records would follow but "Identity" is a musically cohesive, engaging, and highly emotive opus with a sense of surreal beauty and deep-seated melancholy to it, and thanks to this remastering it has never sounded better than it does now.