Harlequins Enigma is a creative musical endeavor out of Norway and the product of mastermind, Åge Riisnes, who is creating mystical and electronica-based music spiced with many healthy dashes of the new age, trance, techno, space, and ambient genres. Now Riisnes has pulled out all the stops with his new solo album, “åge – own compositions”, and his mini EP “voices from the ethereal planes of the rain forests”! Check them out below!
Solo Album: “åge – own compositions”
Mini EP: “voices from the ethereal planes of the rain forests”
Biography:
Harlequins Enigma is a Bergen, Norway-based band created in 2008 by synth musician, composer, and video producer, Åge Riisnes. Harlequins Enigma is mostly a one-man-band, but Elin Berge, Katie Leung, and Sara Jensen serve as co-members with several album appearances over the years. Åge began experimenting with synth-based music in the early 1990’s. The primary musical creations revolve around chip-tune, electronica, techno, experimental, video game soundtracks, space, ambient, and new age genres.
Throughout the years, channeling-type collaborations with Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Vangelis, Kitaro, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Dave Weckl, Chick Corea, Jan Gabarek, and others have spawned rich, creative, and mature pieces of music. Riding the electronic waves of sound, Harlequins Enigma bridges the gap between fantasy and reality with a good dose of futuristic embellishments that have been stewing, brooding, and morphing since the early 1990’s.
Harlequins Enigma has released twelve full-length albums since 2011. The first three albums released in 2011 include The Journey of Harlequins Enigma 1, 2, and 3. This electronic series was followed by Octagon Vol. 2 – Night Pulse & The Silhouette of Dr. Voodoo, and Octagon Vol. 3 – Battle Without Dishonour. Two singles were also released: “Time Dance” (Liberty Mix) and “Battle Without Dishonor”. In 2012, Harlequins Enigma released Ophidians: Caricature Personalities, Neighbour Tribe, The Long Road, and Octagon Vol. 4: Loom. The latest few albums released in 2013, include Ophidians – Big Chiefs, TD Sound 1 (feat. Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream), and Discord (feat. Jean Michel Jarre).
In his spare time, Åge enjoys gaming, poetry, hi-fi, music video production, and music in general. Åge’s favorite musicians in the electronic genre are Jean Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Schulze, and Kitaro. The musical diversity of Harlequins Enigma is partly due to the innate skills and foresight of Åge Riisnes and the incredible variety of talented guest musicians and band co-members that appear on numerous albums. Åge Riisnes is focused on human rights, equality, positive technology, and an affinity for natural world. The musical goals of Harlequins Enigma “are not to stand on stage.” In fact, “no concerts have been played, or will.” Consequently, fans will have to experience the music via downloads or albums. As a thinker and philanthropist, Åge wholeheartedly supports Dyrebeskyttelsen Norway and Amnesty International. Harlequins Enigma’s albums and downloads can be purchased on CD Baby and Amazon.
Links:
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