Demo
Askr : demo (US,2005)***°
Askr is a San Francisco Bay Area trio with Bryan Hillebrandt: electric 6 string guitar, electric baritone guitar, Arp synth, electric reed organ, bells, autoharp, banjo (bowed and plucked), recorder, voice, Tom Messmer : acoustic 6 string guitar, home made bowed psaltery, mandolin, piano accordion, D fife, Jews harp, harmonica, bells, Dulcimer (bowed and plucked), voice, and Derek Monypeny : electric and acoustic 6 string guitar, harmonium, bells, pennywhistle, lap steel guitar,voice.
The group plays kind of traditional folk melodies interspersed with drones and free-folk improvisation. “Bee Beard” for instance is kind of folkrock with banjo, violin and a certain freedom for electric guitar interpretation. “Pangur Ban” sounds, like Zaam does similarly, like literature in an acid folk experimentation context, recalling some dreamy mystical nature with a folkrock idea. The idea behind Askr in general (there’s a Nordic myth about Askr and Embla, an Adam & Eve opposite ; see links below for more info) is to explore and experiment with ancient and chthonic realities, which according to the group’s opinion is ignored in Western Civilization. Through free improvisation and creative spheres, such limitations of the contexts we usually use, openedup, like with the imposing of a different mentallity, or with a refreshing context and background, creating its own musicality. "Walking Curious" is a slightly melancholic but still driven psych-folk song. Last track, "Well and Tree" starts with a kind of mystic droning sphere, with improvising strings.
