Data was a musical project ahead of its times. As the name suggests, it takes advantage of new technologies in the music world. Using that technology, an innovative form of progressive rock was created by this short-lived band.
The early version of the band was named TA Data, with the initials of the band's brainchild -- Tiit Aunaste -- fronting. Aunaste brought the then-high-tech world of programming into Estonian progressive rock. His partner in the project was none other than the great Igor Garnek, the keyboard whiz of prog legends Ruja and symphonic prog great Synopsis. Ruja had split up in 1988, and Data was one of the projects Garnek embarked upon afterwards.
The duo was augmented at times by various musicians. At times, Garnek's former bandmate, the legendary Ruja vocalist Urmas Alender, worked with Data in providing vocals and lyrics. Another vocalist that worked with Data was Hillar Norralt, known as the "Jon Anderson of Estonia" for very good reasons. It's scary to listen to some of the stuff, as it sounds like Jon Anderson singing in Estonian! Guitarist Mihkel Raud, now with the popular rock band Mr. Lawrence, also featured in many Data recordings. Kalle Vilpuu, another one of Estonia's most brilliant guitarists, also lends his considerable talent to many tracks.
Though Data recorded many pieces during 1988-1992, very little of it saw public release. The only release was a cassette, Kõik läheb mööda, which is one of the most sought-after items in Estonian prog for its rarity. The cassette featured some of the band's best, including the title track featuring Urmas Alender at his best. It also features the aforementioned Hillar Norralt being at his "Jon Anderson" best.
However, many of the band's other great material -- including both Alender and Norralt -- remains unreleased. Some of it, such as the four-part Christmas prog suite that was partially released in a Christmas LP Jõulu pop, is absolutely amazing. Hopefully some of this material will find a way to be released one day.
The 1989 LP release by Igor Garnek, called Loomade Farm -- a prog oratorio on the classic George Orwell story "Animal Farm" -- also featured Data.
Though the band featured programming as a central element, this did not mean the band was confined to the studio. Data did gig, with Aunaste often taking the difficult task of playing, as well as singing. Again the duo was often augmented on stage, usually by a guitarist like Nevil Blumberg (the Synopsis partner of Garnek).
Sadly, the project faded away in the early 1990s. Though Aunaste and Garnek both remained active in the music scene, Data was perhaps too far ahead of its time. Technology has since improved to remove some of the "cheesy" aspects of programming that plagued the genre in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, their material is a testament to the innovative nature of Estonians in all fields, including prog. Perhaps it would be fun for the duo to regroup and play around with the technologies of the 21st century.
Discography
| Kõik läheb mööda |
1989 |
cassette |
