The beautiful voice of Arjen Anthony Lucassen's AMBEON project finally resurfaces in a new band called theENDORPHINS. Born somewhere around November 2003, band members Astrid van der Veen (AMBEON, AYREON), Arjan Hoekstra and Dennis Edelenbosch have recently gone live on the world wide web.

The official bio reads "The band uses a very wide range of instruments. In addition to the regular guitar, bass and piano you hear tuba, violin, harmonium and various percussion. The dual vocal lines have a way of surprisingly curling into one another. The style of music is not easily described. Although the music is unprecedented and experimental, the influences from the sixties and seventies are undeniable. The melancholic music tends to drag you into its purity."

Currently on their website (http://www.theendorphins.com) you can download a promo EP, with artwork, for free. Other songs are available, as well. A debut album will be released sometime in 2006.

In related news, you can also purchase Astrid's second solo album entitled Seamless Borderline from theENDORPHINS website. Also, a special edition re-release of Astrid's long out-of-print debut album, Beautiful Red, released in 2000—recorded when she was just 14 years old—will be released sometime in 2006. Songs from both albums are available on theENDORPHINS website under the Discography/Side Projects section.