ARABS IN ASPIC – Far Out in Aradabia (2021 Remaster)
- Posted on 03-08-2021
The fabulous Norwegian prog rockers Arabs in Aspic who hail from the city of Trondheim are without doubt one of the country’s finest exponents of warm, authentically vintage-sounding music. What we have here is a remastered re-release of their second album, which originally came out in 2004 and is entitled "Far Out in Aradabia". Jacob Holm-Lupo (The Opium Cartel, White Willow) has done a great job here and to these ears, this is the Arabs in Aspic record that benefits the most from having been remastered. It sounds a little more dynamic now, and some of the nuances and the thick, hazy vibe of the compositions are more pronounced and prominent thanks to Holm-Lupo’s excellent work.
What about the actual music then? What if I told you that Arabs in Aspic have an uncanny knack for summoning riffs, melodies, and grooves that will make your walls shake? There are moments of anguish and melancholy present on the disc, but there are also parts of the LP that are borderline breezy-sounding and uplifting. Blissed-out jams, ecstatic musical peaks, heaps of atmosphere, an obscene number of infectious hooks, and inventive song arrangements – this is the kind of music that is physical and that you can feel in your spine. One’s thoughts dissolve into shimmering waves of fuzzy, 70s-inspired prog soundscapes and trust me when I say that you will be perfectly okay with that. Make sure you pay special attention to the beautifully moving piece named "Come to Me" – a stunning track for sure.
It might not be way up there with some of their later releases, but who gives a fuck? Just make sure you grab a copy of this remastered version of "Far Out in Aradabia" if you are into early Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, and prog from the bygone era that is the 1970s!