Aranis

The Flemish ensemble Aranis play original music that blends neoclassical chamber music elements with the rhythmic drive and pulse of rock and minimalism. Based in Antwerp and led by composer/bassist Joris Vanvinckenroye, the core group has no drummer and strongly emphasizes acoustic instrumentation. In addition to Vanvinckenroye, the bandmembers have included violinists Linde de Groof and Liesbeth Lambrecht, accordionist Marjolein Cools, pianist Axelle Kennes, guitarist Stijn Denys, and flutist Jana Arns. Aranis' eponymous debut CD was recorded in August 2005 and distributed by Lowlands later that year; the CD was reviewed enthusiastically by those who heard it, and compared to the work of other notable chamber-style ensembles straddling the worlds of modern classical, rock, jazz, and European folk musics, including the Belgian groups Julverne and Louise Avenue -- both of which featured members of avant-prog warhorses Univers Zero. The band in fact cites UZ as an influence, along with a host of others ranging from Astor Piazzolla to Gavin Bryars, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Flat Earth Society, and Stravinsky, Bartók, and Shostakovich.

In 2007 Aranis recorded and released their second CD, Aranis II (featuring an appearance by X-Legged Sally, Flat Earth Society, and Think of One trumpeter Bart Maris), and embarked on an extensive series of live concerts throughout Belgium, continuing through the fall and winter and extending into spring of the following year. In April of 2009 the group recorded its third album, Songs from Mirage, featuring vocal contributions from Els Van Laethem, Herlinde Ghekiere, and Anne Marie Honggokoesoemo. That same month, Aranis leader Joris Vanvinckenroye -- using the moniker BASta! -- recorded his first solo CD, entitled Cycles. Both Songs from Mirage and Cycles were released on the Belgian "modern folk" label Home later in 2009. Aranis' fourth album, Roqueforte, arrived the following year on the Italian AltrOck label; the album brought a change in personnel, with the band now consisting of Vanvinckenroye, Arns, Lambrecht, Cools, Denys, and violist Stefan Wellens along with keyboardist Pierre Chevalier (Univers Zero, Present) and drummer Dave Kerman (5uu's, Thinking Plague, Ahvak, Present), giving somewhat more emphasis to the music's rhythmic pulse and power without compromising the group's chamberesque textures or the consistency of Vanvinckenroye's compositional approach. ~ Dave Lynch, Rovi