ARANIS - SMELLS LIKE ARANIS

• aranis: smells like aranis
      (2017, cd, bel, homerecords)

Flemish acoustic avant-rock, experimental and neo-classical chamber music ensemble Aranis recently released "Smells Like Aranis", their 7th release.

Lots of Nirvana, a bit of Joris Vanvinckenroye and one David Bowie piece.

Beautiful.

http://www.aranis.be/

ARANIS UPDATE

Belgian ensemble Aranis has a new album out : "Smells Like Aranis", on which they perform music by some famous band.

September 28, 2017, Aranis will be performing mdieval music at the OLV church in Sint Niklaas, BE. One time event to celebrate the 800th birthday of Sint Niklaas.

www.ccsint-niklaas.be

ARANIS IN CONCERT IN WÜRZBURG NEXT MONDAY

Belgian band Aranis will be perfoming at Hafensommer Würzburg on July 27, 2015.

Here's a short impression of their latest album :

ARANIS LIVE @ ROCK IN OPPOSITION 2009

The complete Aranis concert from the Rock In Opposition festival 2009.

ARANIS - ARANIS

• aranis: aranis
      (2008, lp, bel, private release / lowlands)

Shortly after the release of their second album Aranis released a sampler. On vinyl.
Two times four tracks.

The album was a private release by Aranis and it got distributed by Lowlands.

Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

BASTA! - CYCLES

• basta: cycles
      (2009, cd, bel, homerecords)

Composer (for Aranis) and musician Joris Vanvinckenroye released his first solo album under the moniker BASta! in 2009.
The album was called "Cycles" and the pieces were performed by Joris on double bass and loopstation.

Here's 'Delayed' from "Cycles":

www.aranis.be

ARANIS - MADE IN BELGIUM II

• aranis: made in belgium II
      (2014, cd, bel, homerecords)

Aranis is touring Belgium to promote their brand-new "Made In Belgium II" release. I saw them in Sint-Niklaas on the 18th of October at the official première. I went home afterwards in a good mood and with a copy of the new album.

As the title suggests, "Made In Belgium II" is the second volume of a series in which Aranis performs the music of Belgian composers. This time around, we get treated to compositions by a.o. Peter Vermeersch (Flat Earth Society), Jan Kuijken, Koen Van Roy (Cro Magnon), Maarten Van Ingelgem (Vlaams Radio Koor) and Pierre Chevalier (Present).
Impressive.
As a nice extra, Pierre Verlvoesem guests on guitar on two tracks: Walter Hus' 'La Vague' and Kurt Budé's 10-minute 'Cell Stress'. The latter one  has Pierre playing a guitar solo against the classical Aranis setting. Nice.

www.aranis.be

JORIS VANVINCKENROYE - IN ROOD

• joris vanvinckenroye: in rood
      (2013, cd, bel, belfius)

Joris Vanvinckenroye is the double bass player and the composer for the Aranis ensemble.
Last year, Joris released his second solo album, "In Rood".

The album presented two pieces: 'In Rood', a collaboration with Wim Geysen (who wrote the lyrics), and 'Aorta', a suite in four parts.
Solo double bass.
It sounds great.

If you're familiar with the music that Aranis performs, you will most definitely like this.

Here's Joris Vanvinckenroye at the "Vrije Geluiden" TV show, 2010.

ZAPPANALE #25 - PART 9C

Aranis was one of the highlights of Zappanale #25.
It was about time that I updated their discography over at the United Mutations Archives.

• aranis: aranis
      (2005, cd, bel, private release / lowlands)

The first album by Aranis is better known as "Aranis I". It presented 10 original compositions by Joris Vanvinckenroye and made clear what Aranis stands for : a contemporary, energetic mix of classical music, prog rock and jazz.
Private release, distributed by Lowlands.

• aranis: aranis II
      (2007, cd, bel, private release / lowlands)

Aranis' second album, aptly called "Aranis II", got released in 2007. It continues where "Aranis I" left off. Chamber rock at its best.
Two violins, an accordion, a piano, a guitar, a flute and a double bass.
Bart Maris guests on trumpet on one track !

• aranis: hidden soundscapes
      (2007, cd, bel, jeugd en muziek)

Early 2007, Aranis won the Gouden Vleugels (Golden Wings) award.
This resulted in a 15-minute EP with flute player Toon Fret.
7 short pieces. Original material next to works by Bach, Jolivet, Tinctoris and Bartok.

• aranis: songs from mirage
      (2009, cd, bel, homerecords)

"Songs From Mirage" is one of my personal favorites. The ensemble got expanded by three female vocalists, adding an extra layer of mysticism.
More traditional and classical sounding.
Great stuff.
The band's first release on the Homerecords label.

• aranis: roqueforte
      (2010, cd, bel, homerecords)

Album number four, "Roqueforte", has Aranis returning to their typical and recognizable sound.
The overall sound is more powerful due to the added drums and percussion.

• aranis: made in belgium
      (2012, cd, bel, homerecords)

The latest episode in the musical adventures of Aranis is entitled "Made In Belgium".
The album presents music that was written by various Belgian composers.
Exceptional.
"Made In Belgium II" is in the works and should be out real soon.

1. nonchalance  (jan kuijken)
2. le feu  (wouter vandenabeele)
3. inara  (ward de vleeschhouwer)
4. gentlemen of leisure  (wim mertens)
5. where is grommit  (arne van dongen)
6. le mar t'eau  (geert waegeman)
7. short story  (luc de gezelle)
8. l1  (joris vanvinckenroye)
9. salernes  (wim  mertens)
10. bulgarian flying spirit dances 2  (daniel denis)
11. viaggio fra due fini  (dick van der harst)
12. ersatz  (roger trigaux)

http://www.aranis.be/

ZAPPANALE #25 - PART 9B

Aranis will be presenting their new album, "Made In Belgium II" on the following occasions:

As you can see, most of these concerts will be taking place in Belgium, but there's a gig scheduled in Tokyo, Japan in November as well !

ZAPPANALE #25 - PART 9A

The Aranis ensemble performed at the first day of the Zappanale Festival.
Scheduled between The Grandsheiks (playing the music of Frank Zappa) and the one and only Magic Band (with John 'Drumbo' French, Denny 'Feelers Reebo' Walley and Mark 'Rockette Morton' Boston !!) doing the music of Captain Beefheart, Aranis took the mystery stage around 20:30 h.

I had to support my fellow compatriots, so I made sure that I was there before the concert started.

picture by Javier

• Liesbeth Lambrecht: viola
• Marjolein Cools: accordion
• Stijn Denys: guitar
• Pierre Chevalier: piano
• Joris Vanvinckenroye: double bass
• Jana Arns: flute, vocals

Aranis played a very impressive set. They brought pieces from their latest album "Made In Belgium" and from their forthcoming album "MIB II" that both focus on Belgian composers.

The complete concert featured 12 fine compositions. Unfortunately, I didn't catch all the titles, but the setlist looked a bit like this:

• Hit (Jan Kuijken)
• Skip (Peter Vermeersch)
• Le Feu (Wouter Vandenabeele)
• Nonchalance (Jan Kuijken)
• Tolles Pferd (Koen Van Roy)
• Zappa Improvisation (Pierre Chevalier) using various Frank Zappa themes
• Bulgarian Flying Spirit Dances 2 (Daniel Denis)
  ...
• Lever In Plakjes (Joris Vanvinckenroye)
• Pasta Presto (Joris Vanvinckenroye)  

'Skip' by Flat Earth Society chief Peter Vermeersch was the second piece of the set. It's one of the pieces that will be on the next Aranis album. I don't think it will include Jana's rap about the feedback in the monitor, but it sounded great and it makes me look forward to the new album. If I'm not mistaken, Pierre Vervloesem is a guest on tthis new album as well.
Pierre Chevalier's solo piano Zappa improvisation was perfect for the occasion and served as a fine intro for (Univers Zero's) Daniel Denis' 'Bulgarian Flying Spirit Dances 2'.
The concert ended with two compositions by Joris Vanvinckenroye, Aranis' double bass player and resident composer: 'Lever In Plakjes' and 'Pasta Presto'.
I loved it.
It was mesmerising.

At a festival, there's two easy ways to tell if the audience likes the performance. If they like it, they're quiet. If they're fascinated, they'll rush to the CD shop as soon as the gig is finished.
In Aranis's case, the audience looked hypnotised when the compositions got performed but burst into applause after each piece. As for the CD's, I bought the titles that were missing in my collection and I wasn't the only one.
A highlight.