Freedom to Music
Posts tagged Michel Berckmans
Univers Zero – Clivages (2009) (@256)
14 Feb 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
With a headless statue as an artwork, the group suffers a few changes compared to the previous Implosion album, but then again line-up changes are usual for Univers Zero. Recorded in May 2009, this studio album covers the same old ground made of sumptuous mid-tempo chamber progressive, most of the usual dithyrambics are still applicable.
After a short Koboldian entrance, “Warrior” (from guest Andy Kirk) is one of two epics, and probably one of Univers Zero’s fastest tunes ever in its closing section. “Vacillements” is bassoon playing hide and seek with violin and clarinet, while “Apesanteur” is indeed a very light one, bringing a breath of fresh air. “Soubresaults” is the logical follow-up top “Earth Scream” (both from Denis) and are extremely technical pieces, Denis’ complex drumming certainly not helping.
After a semi-interesting “Three Days”, Bude signs the 14-mins “Straight Edge”, where we hear electric organ and other keyboard give boost to the group and sends a sax solo in the stratosphere. The slow middle section gives Bude a chance to blow sax death thralls that’ll curdle your blood, before the group finds a manic groove for its finale. Berckman’s “Retour De Foire” is like a fairy spell, but by now, we’re waiting for the “Horus” finale, where Daniel Denis lets his son Nicolas handle the drum, the track being a fitting album outro.
This one might be a bit less sombre than usual, but other than that it remains another impeccable Univers Zero album that is easily worth its predecessors.
Line-up:
- Daniel Denis / drums, percussion, sampler
- Michel Berckmans / bassoon, english horn, oboe, melodica
- Kurt Bude / clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax
- Pierre Chevalier / keyboards, glockenspiel
- Dimitri Evers / electric and fretless bass
- Andy Kirk / guitar (2, 5), percussion (2)
- Martin Lauwers / violin
with
- Nicolas Denis / drums (10)
- Philippe Thuriot / accordion (1, 10)
- Aurelia Boven / cello (10)
Track List:
01. Les Kobolds – 4:17
02. Warrior – 12:12
03. Vacillements – 3:37
04. Earth Scream – 3:11
05. Soubresauts – 8:00
06. Apesanteur – 3:42
07. Three Days – 5:55
08. Straight Edge – 13:59
09. Retour de Foire – 7:44
10. Les Cercles d’Horus – 3:45
Link in comments.
Univers Zero – Relaps Archives 1984-1986 (@256)
12 Feb 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
Although presented as an archives compilation, this album could also be a live album since all the tracks were recorded live in a bunch of concert ranging from Feb 1984 until Feb 86, but somehow it also echoes the “Crawling Winds” EP that focused between 1981 and 83.
With its superb red-tainted fossil rock artwork, Relaps rehashes mostly material of “Uzed” and its successor “Heatwave”, in spite of a lengthy lapse of time where the band lay dormant, while Denis and Mergenthaler where active with Art Zoyd. Relaps is an essential piece of work showing that the band’s most exceptional moments were indeed live.
Roughly the disc is made of two main chunks of three tracks (In Hannover, Feb 84) opening and closing the album, with two selections making up the centre. The first chunk includes mostly tracks from Uzed and most notably the always-amazing “Présage”, which is still the cornerstone on which the second phase of Univers Zero sits upon. Equally interesting, “Parade” is a stunning piece that gains from its studio version. After excerpts of “Ligne Claire” watering the mouth, we are thrown into a brilliant rendition of “Emanations” in what became Univers Zero’s last concert for over a decade, the Frankfurt Jazz Festival.
Finally the last chunk comes from Seraing where the tracks are mostly from the future “Heatwave” album with the returning Andy Kirk in the fold and indeed both the 9-mins Heatwave and the 18-mins Funeral Plain are both outstanding versions (especially the latter) and to cap it all off, a short improv of Etrange Mixture.
Line-up:
- Daniel Denis / drums
- Michel Delory / guitar (5-8)
- Dirck Descheemaeker / soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet
- Christian Genet / bass
- Patrick Hanappier / violin, viola (5-8)
- Andy Kirk / keyboards (5-8)
- Andre Mergen / cello, alto sax, voice (1-4)
- Jean/Luc Plouvier / keyboards
Track List:
01. L’etrange Mixture du Docteur Schwartz – 4:03
02. Presage – 10:06
03. Parade – 8:13
04. Ligne Claire (extract) – 3:48
05. Emanations – 12:26
06. Hetawave – 8:41
07. The Funeral Plain – 18:07
08. L’etrange mixture du Docteur Schwartz – 4:44
Link in comments.
Von Zamla – 1983 (Live 1983) (@256)
30 Jun 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
This album contains recordings from two live concerts in Germany during Von Zamla’s Spring 1983 European tour. The production is very good especially since these are live recordings.
“1983″ features songs from both “Zamlaranamma” and “No Make Up!” studio albums, together with some songs that has never been released on any album before.
The sound is very much in terms of RIO but also laced with gypsy jazz (circus-like music). For this one, Belgium’s Michel Berckmans (of Univers Zero fame) joined the band and he gives a typical Berckmans input with his bassoon.
The music pumps with a creepy, Monster Mash hipness and astounding changes in mode and tempo, filled with delicate lines, little details, and bizarre humor. The group draws influence from seemingly all music at once and spits it back out with flair and bold disregard for convention or popular ideals. The thirteen cuts brim with this energy. The vast majority of tunes here are instrumental and offer much with a truly progressive form of rock music.
Among the highlights in this album would be the impressive Temporal You Are with keyboard layers reminding of Pink Floyd’s Shine On You Crazy Diamonds and the Gong-like Doppler.
Line-up:
- Eino Haapala / guitar
- Lars Hollmer / piano, organ, korg, accordion
- Hans Loelv / piano, organ, korg, melodica
- Michel Berckmans / bassoon, oboe
- Wolfgang Salomon / bass
- Marten Tiselius / drums
Track List:
01. Ten Tango – 7:23
02. Forgeetyde – 4:23
03. Harujanta – 7:56
04. Temporal You Are – 5:59
05. Antsong – 5:34
06. Fur Munju – 4:46
07. Glassmusic – 1:00
08. Rainbox – 3:11
09. Doppler – 7:57
10. Akarondo – 2:48
11. Dancing Madras – 0:30
12. Clandestine – 6:59
13. Odet (Bonus Track) – 5:42
Link in comments.
Von Zamla – No Make Up! (Vinyl 1983) (@320)
29 Jun 2010
(Thanks to CrimsonKing and his new blog Brain Damage)
Second studio album of the Von Zamla incarnation features an expanded lineup of six, including Univers Zero reeds man Michel Berckmans. “No Make Up!” is undeniably an avant progressive tour de force.
Throughout the album, it’s once again Lars Hollmer’s familiar accordion, that drives most of the Nordic European style folk melodies. The ensemble work is tight, in typical chamber music fashion, with the aggressive rock edge provided by guitarist Eino Haapala, the same role he played for the Zamla clan prior.
It’s fair to say that most of the groups in the Rock in Opposition camp find it hard to avoid some crazy improvisation, sort of their bitch-slap to the establishment. Here Von Zamla only utilize one piece for that, the unbelievably irritating (and mercifully short) ‘Voice Improvisation’. Fortunately the remainder of the tracks remain composed, energetic and satisfying.
The album opener “Forge Etude”, is a rework from the Zamla Mammaz Manna incarnation’s final album “Familjesprickor”.
Line-up:
- Michel Berckmans / bassoon, oboe
- Eino Haapala / guitar, vocals
- Lars Hollmer / keyboards, accordion
- Hans Louhelainen / keyboards, melodica
- Wolfgang Salomon / bass, guitaron
- Marten Tiselius / drums
with
- Kalle Eriksson / trumpet (4), percussion
Track List:
01. Forge Etude – 4:07
02. Soon Series – 7:25
03. Fur Munju Indojazz – 6:01
04. Gilmit – 4:31
05. Hopeful – 4:35
06. Endanko – 3:51
07. Piece of Antsong – 2:45
08. Voice Improvisation – 3:49
09. After Smrt – 5:14
10. Cancion de Bi-Me-Mela – 3:25
Link in comments.
Univers Zero – Live (2006) (@VBR ~186-215)
17 Oct 2008
(Review from progarchives.com, progreviews.com)
If Univers Zero has reunited by the late 90s, they were mostly not a touring group. But for their recent studio album Implosion, Daniel Denis not only wrote one of his most groundbreaking and spellbinding albums, but also decided to take the group on the road.
With a fairly different line-up of musicians compared to the Implosion album (most notably the absence of long-time member Descheemaeker), Univers Zero is simply brilliant and the musicians are clearly on the best level.
Univers Zero has never been a group of histrionics and shredding solos, but rather an incredibly tight group where improvisation is not absent, but tightly controlled still, keeping things concise and the listener awake.
The set list presented here is of course partly re-presenting the full show, but the selection is widespread throughout their discography, having chosen to feature only two tracks from their latest album, although not the shortest ones. Of interest is Electronica Mambo Musette, which sounds anything but mambo, but rather borrows on improv some of Ravel’s bolero.
There are very few bands active today doing the neoclassical/chamber rock thing anywhere near as well as these guys. For fans of the new incarnation of Univers Zero, Live is a no-brainer. For those who still prefer the earlier material, this album presents the new stuff in the most favorite possible light.
Line-up:
- Michel Berckmans / oboe, English horn, bassoon, melodica
- Kurt Bude / clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone
- Daniel Denis / drums, percussion
- Martin Lauwers / violin
- Eric Plantain / bass
- Peter Van Den Berghe / keyboards
Track List:
01. Xenantaya – 12:53
02. Civic Circus – 7:33
03. Electronika Mambo Musette – 7:20
04. Kermesse Atomique – 6:04
05. Bonjour Chez Voys – 5:00
06. Meandres – 10:33
07. Falling Rain Dance – 8:53
08. Toujours Plus A L’est – 8:23
Link in comments.
Univers Zero – Implosion (2004) (@320)
15 Oct 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
The thing that strikes most when looking at the track listing of “Implosion” is the sheer number of them (an unprecedented 16) and the average length. Once your album is inside your deck and spinning the shock comes right away: never had you heard such (and so much) synthesised/sampled music before on a Univers Zero album.
While the music may have evolved, the typical Univers Zero ambiances are still there and very much in the same spirit as before with the sombre but haunting atmospheres evoking the mysterious mid-east (somewhere between the Egyptian empires and the Sumerian era), but so much more. As one of the highlights, “Temps Neuf” or the lengthy finale “Meandres” are representing the classic Univers Zero.
Implosion is easily a 21st-century Univers Zero favorite. Most proghead should lend an attentive ear to the two Mellotronic themes but this album is must-hear for everyone enjoying challenging music.
Line-up:
- Daniel Denis / drums, percussion, keyboard, samplers, accordion, guitar
- Michel Berckmans / oboe, English horn, bassoon
- Serge Bertocchi / saxes & tubax
- Aurelia Boven / cello
- Ariane De Bievre / flute, piccolo
- Dirk Descheemaeker / bass clarinet, clarinet
- Bart Maris / trumpet, flugelhorn
- Eric Plantain / electric bass
- Christophe Pons / acoustic guitar
- Bart Quartier / marimba, glockenspiel
- Igor Semenoff / violin
Track List:
01. Suintement (Oozing) – 1:13
02. Falling Rain Dance – 4:14
03. Partch’s X-Ray – 5:23
04. Rapt d’Abdallah – 3:01
05. Miroirs (Mirrors) – 1:19
06. La Mort de Sophocle (Sophocle’s Death) – 3:11
07. Ectoplasme – 1:07
08. Temps Neufs – 4:56
09. Mellotronic – 4:04
10. Bacteria – 1:28
11. Out of Space 4 – 2:53
12. First Short Dance – 0:43
13. Second Short Dance – 0:44
14. Variations on Mellotronic’s Theme – 3:05
15. A Rebours (In Reverse) – 1:56
16. Meandres (Meanderings) – 9:38
Links in comments.
Univers Zero – Rhythmix (2002) (@320)
15 Oct 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
“Rhythmix” shows the band in fine form, repeating the formula that had been successfully invented in “Uzed”. The musics still seems to come out of the entrails of Earth with its dark and gloomy athmospheres full of near classical music but with a demonic/devilish drummer cadencing as you row your life away onto your king’s galley whipped if you start to weaken.
The first striking thing is the addition of so much extra instrumentation. The return of cello was nice, and flute and accordion were presented with a subtle enough touch as to be virtually transparent. The kickers, though, are trumpet and acoustic guitar. Christophe Pons’ guitar work on “Rouages: Second Rotation” is simply great.
The defining moment comes with the opening of “The Fly-Toxmen’s Land”. The trumpet’s arrival is absolutely jarring, which is fitting for such a brutal composition. New bassist Eric Plantain holds his own with spidery bass fingering against Denis’ rampant thumping, while the winds and percussion swirl around like dreams of angry lactating bats. Before long (making you wish it were longer), the whole thing shifts into a melancholic coda, with the trumpet resurfacing in a much less piercing fashion. Denis’ drums take on a more direct approach, with bass and keys repeating a daunting riff. Five minutes is just not long enough for this masterpiece.
Line-up:
- Daniel Denis / drums, percussion, keyboards
- Michel Berckmans / horns and wind instruments
- Eric Plantain / bass
- Bart Quartier / marimba, other percussion
with
- Christophe Pons / accoustic guitar (# 1,3,5)
- Aurelia Boven / cello (# 1,5,9)
- Bart Maris / trumpet (# 6,10,12)
- Dirk Descheemaeker / clarinet (# 7)
- Ariane de Bievre / flutes (# 2)
- Louison Renault / accordion (# 1)
Track List:
01. Terres Noires (Blacklands) – 6:09
02. Reve Cyclique – 5:58
03. Rouages – Second Rotation (Cogwheels – Second Rotation) – 3:39
04. The Invisible Light – 3:12
05. Phobia – 5:33
06. Zorgh March – 3:24
07. Zebulon – 3:13
08. Foret Inviolee (Secret Forest) – 2:20
09. Shanghai’s Digital Talks – 4:51
10. Emotions Galactiques (Galactical Emotions) – 5:47
11. Waiting for the Sun – 3:16
12. The Fly-Toxmen’s Land – 4:52
13. Reve Cyclique (Reprise) – 0:53
Links in comments.
Univers Zero – Hard Quest (1999) (@256)
14 Oct 2008
(Review from progarchives.com, progreviews.com)
After a 13 year rest Univers Zero rises again from its ashes. For the reunion, Michel Berckmans (an original member) came back and the son of another original player Roger Trigaux, Reginald (both father and son are in Present, another seminal and influential Belgian band that had made its triumphant return a few years before) joined on guitars.
The music on this album pretty much picks up where the group had stopped some thirteen years back adding up some ever somber drama to a very descriptive chamber rock . Again Bartok and Ives are the most audible influences here. The violin does not make a great impact on the music. Whatever vocals are on this album are strictly voices and recitations – no actual singing.
The compositions are tighter and more accessible than previous albums, almost as if Denis had written the album keeping in mind with the prospect of luring a new generation of potential fans. Texturally and compositionally, this is a very diverse album. The keyboard sounds generated include the now-reinstated harmonium, as well as organ (“Affintite”) and even harpsichord (“Civic Circus”). On “Vieux-Manants”, sparse bass drum and tambourine create a medieval feel, while other tracks feature tuned percussion (“Civic Circus”) and Denis’ traditional drum kit. Denis even loosens up to play a straight 4/4 on the middle-Eastern “Xenantaya”; always wondered if he could do that!
Line-up:
- Michel Berckmans / bassoon, oboe, English horn, melodica, piano
- Daniel Denis / drums, keyboards, percussion, melodica, voice
- Dirk Descheemaeker / clarinet, bass clarinet
- Igor Semenoff / violin
- Reginald Trigaux / electric bass, voice, acoustic guitar
Track List:
01. Vieux-manants – 2:54
02. Civic Circus – 4:42
03. Affinite – 5:54
04. Rouages – 5:54
05. News From Outside – 3:27
06. Rébus (To All Children) – 2:50
07. Kermesse Atomique – 5:37
08. Succčs Damne – 4:22
09. L’impasse Du Choléra – 1:51
10. Xenantaya – 10:39
11. L’oubli – 1:49
Link in comments.
Univers Zero – Crawling Wind (EP 1979-84) (@320)
06 Oct 2008
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
“Crawling Wind” was originally released in 1983 as a limited edition, japanese only 12″ EP by Eastern Works. This rare 3-track EP has been re-mastered with the addition of previously unreleased studio and live material.
Daniel Denis’ “Toujours plus a l’Est” is an excellent composition that easily matches the consistently high quality of the band’s other studio works from that era. The piece is uncharacteristically brightly colored, obviously taking a breather from the darkness and brooding that defined their previous three albums, though still with the dashes of Eastern European flavor and uncluttered, rhythmic precision that gives it that unmistakable Univers Zero identity.
Before we get too comfortable, however, Andy Kirk’s “Before the Heat” is more characteristic of the macabre atmosphere indigenous to the band’s earlier albums and reputation, with plucked strings and chasmal reverberations. This mood is reinforced by the live improvisation “Central Belgium in the Dark”, recorded in 1982.
The bonus additional tracks feature “Influences”, a Kirk-penned studio recording from 1982; “Triomphe Des Mouches” recorded live in Hannover in 1984 and “Complainte” recorded live in Belgium in 1979.
“Crawling Wind” is somewhat of an uneven EP, and certainly the massive interest in it was due in part to its obscurity and rarity. It is a must-have for those who can’t get enough of this band’s peak period. Not the best place to start, but certainly not be ignored either.
Line-up:
- Daniel Denis / drums, percussion, voice, violin, harmonium
- Dirk Descheemaeker / clarinet
- Andy Kirk / piano, organ, synth, voice, viola, music box, percussion, harmonium, radio
- Guy Segers / bass, voice, violin, invisible talk, flies talk
- Alan Ward / violin
- Christian Genet / bass
- André Mergenthaler / cello
- Jean-Luc Plouvier / keyboards
- Michel Berckmans / oboe, bassoon
- Patrick Hanappier / viola
- Roger Trigaux / guitar
Track List:
01. Toujours plus a l’est (5:29)
02. Before The Heat (4:03)
03. Central Belgium In The Dark (Live) (9:50)
04. Influences (Bonus) (7:36)
05. Triomphe Des Mouches (Bonus Live) (9:51)
06. Complainte (Bonus Live) (5:28)
Link in comments.
Univers Zero – Ceux Du Dehors (1981) (@256)
06 Oct 2008
(Review from progarchives.com, progreviews.com)
Third album from this stunning but sombre group and one of the highest rated from fans and often cited as THE album.
The 12-min+ Dense is a fiery “introduction” with Mellotrons layers underlined a strong harmonium, woodwinds and violin under the heavy duty Segers/Denis rhythm section. The middle section is rather quieter, but not any less worrisome, but Berckmans oboe draws wonders. Following this monster track is the no-less impressive (but very oppressive;-) La Corne, which is downright macabre with a few out of this world vocals and its church organ. We are definitely more in the classical music than in the rock spectrum with this track. Closing the first side is an almost danceable and considerably lighter Bonjour Chez Vous. Gothic is the word to describe this oeuvre.
The second side opens on the almost 13-min Kirk-penned Combat, with its war-like march beats, its calm before the battle, its battlesounds and full blown grandeur. “La Musique d’Erich Zann” is probably the oddest track on the album. It consists mostly of scraping and grinding noises that build up to a fever pitch, and then suddenly snap and return to their original quiet tone. “La Tete du Corbeau” is another quiet, brooding piece, but not nearly as “weird” as the previous track. A glorious first version of “Triomphe Des Mouches” makes the link with the following studio album.
Line-up:
- Michel Berckmans / bassoon, oboe, English horn
- Daniel Denis / drums, percussion
- Patrick Hanappier / viola, violin
- Andy Kirk / harmonium, organ, piano, mellotron
- Guy Segers / bass
with:
- Jean Debefve / hurdy-gurdy
- Jean-Luc Aime / violin
- Ilona Chale / voice
- Thierry Zaboitzeff / cello
Track List:
01. Dense – 12:26
02. La Corne Du Bois Des Pendus – 8:42
03. Bonjour Chez Vous – 3:52
04. Combat – 12:53
05. La Musique D’erich Zann – 3:29
06. La Tete Du Corbeau – 3:11
07. Triomphe Des Mouches – 5:36
Link in comments.
Aksak Maboul – Un Peu De L'Ame Des Bandits (1980) (@256)
28 Feb 2008
(Review from progweed.net, gnosis2000.net)
Aksak Maboul were sort of an “odd man out” among the original RIO bands, caught somewhere in between the more humorous faction (Etron Fou Leloublan) and the darker, more serious groups (Univers Zero).
“Un Peu de L’ame des Bandits”, their second album, contains tracks which are all over the map musically.
The opener, “A Modern Lesson”, has that unique This Heat rocked-out feel with a loose, improvisatory, female vocal style similar to Gutura (an obscure French avant progressive act). This is followed by the two-part “Palmiers en Pots”, a relatively traditional homage to 1920′s Polish living room dance parties. “Geistage Nacht” is the requisite Zeuhl number with great throbbing bass by Fred Frith and excellent winds work from Michel Berckmans and leader Marc Hollander. Also noticeable here is a pioneering version of what would later be known as “Drums N’Bass” music. A great track! “I Viaggi Formano la Gioventu” is a trip to the Middle East with dumbeg and cello playing traditional scales. Similar in some ways to Agitation Free circa Malesch without the psychedelic guitar. So naturally a distorted noisy punk number (“Inoculating Rabies”) would follow, although all through the mayhem are some nice composed bassoon and bass clarinet work. It’s all about contrasts with Aksak Maboul!
Finally “Cinema” closes with a fantastic early Univers Zero-like chamber rock workout. However Aksak Maboul experiment more with free noise than Univers Zero. ever did. Also worth noting is the inclusion of some fabulous tortured Heldonish guitar from Frith.
The CD release contains a bonus track by post-Aksak Maboul band “Honeymoon Killers” which recalls the opening track.
Line-up:
- Marc Hollander / organ, piano, bass clarinet, Alto saxophone, xylophone, percussions
- Vincent Kenis / bass
- Michel Berckmans / basson, oboe
- Chris Cutler / drums, percussions, radio
- Fred Frith / bass, guitar, prepared guitar
- Catherine Jauniaux / voice
- Denis Van Hecke / cello, electric cello, voice
- Frank Wuyts / piano, synthesizer
- Yvon Vromman / guitars, vocals
- Veronique Vincent / guitars
- Gerard Fenerberg / vocals, guitar
- Jeanf Jones Jacob III / drums
Track List:
01. A Modern Lesson (5:00)
02. Palmiers En Pots: Trio / Tango (3:24)
03. Geistige Nacht (5:20)
04. I Viaggi Formano La Gioventu (5:13)
05. Inoculating Rabies (1:59)
06. Cinema (23:03)
07. Bosses De Crosses (Bonus) (7:02)
Link in comments.
Aksak Maboul – Onze Danses Pour Combattre La Migraine (1977) (@192)
27 Feb 2008
Thanks to Ulfgar for the contribution.
(Review from progarchives, wikipedia)
Aksak Maboul began in 1977 as a duo of Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis. The same year, the band recorded their first album, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine (meaning “Eleven Dances for Fighting Migraine”).
Mark Hollander and Vincent Kenis — overdubbing massively and assisted by a small army of session players–produce a wonderful “dog’s breakfast” of music, covering a vast spectrum on this album; everything from various regions’ ethnic music to “fake” jazz to proto-techno is covered. Each is twisted, spun, flipped, and combined with other types of music to create a classic of the avant-prog genre. Most of the pieces are well written, but there are a few pieces that drag. However, these tracks are short and quite excusable on a 17-track album.
Ultimately, this is a quite well-written effort which should be enjoyable to fans of the genre. The quality, variety and uniqueness of this album is high caliber. If you aren’t a rock-in-opposition (RIO) fan, however, this would probably not be the best introduction.
Line-up:
* Marc Hollander – keyboards, percussion, drum machine, xylophone, mandolin, alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet
* Vincent Kenis – accordion, guitar, slide guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion
* Chris Joris – keyboards, soprano saxophone
with
* Paolo Radoni – guitars (4)
* Jeannot Gillis – violin (4)
* Catherine Jauniaux – voice (4, 16)
* Lucy Grauman – voice (6)
* Ilona Chale – voice (6)
* Juliette – voice (10)
* Lee Schloss – soprano saxophone (17)
* Frank Wuyts / keyboards (16)
* Denis Van Hecke / electric cello (16)
* Michel Berckmans / bassoon (16)
* Geoff Leigh / saxophone (16)
Track List:
01. Mercredi Matin (0:23)
02. Saure Gurke (Aus 1 Urwald Gelockt) (2:23)
03. Animaux Velpeau (0:37)
04. Milano Per Caso (3:17)
05. Fausto Coppi Arrive! (1:08)
06. Chanter Est Sain (3:08)
07. Son Of L’Idiot (3:19)
08. DBB (Double Bind Baby) (3:26)
09. Cuic Steppe (4:18)
10. Tous Les Trucs Qu’il y a la Dehors (1:56)
11. Ciobane (0:24)
12. The Mooche (1:35)
13. Vapona, Not Glue (6:37)
14. Glympz (4:51)
15. Three Epileptic Folk Dances (2:19)
16. Mastoul Alakefak (5:06)
17. Mastoul, One Year Later (Live) (3:32)
18. Comme On A Dit (1:51)
Link in comments.
Univers Zero – Heresie (1979) (@192)
02 Jul 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
If their debut album was a slap in the face, this second album can be assimilated to a kick in the arse coupled with an uppercut in the stomach. Univers Zero’s music was never designed for easy thrills and charming melodies to get cosy with a partner, but with this album, the music sinks to the lower instincts of the human mind, uncovering some rather macabre moods. By now, the group is down to a sextet, with Nicaise gone, Trigaux will take on the keyboard duties, while still working his guitars. Another change is the arrival of Guy Segers on bass, and some thirty years later, he is still around the scene, albeit not always as a musician.
As with the debut, the artwork is just as dark and sinister (do not be fooled by the heavy gothic feel, though), fitting the music marvellously well, but certainly not making it more accessible. The side-long “epic”, the 25-min Denis-penned La Faulx is a slow starter and newcomer Segers sings out chants that could easily be written by Vander. Quite a grandiose but doomed and gloomed moment, the track slowly picks up and peaks around the 11 to 13 minutes mark, and resumes a calmer (and repetitive) pace not far from Stravinsky’s most sombre works.
The second side starts off with a collaboration between Denis and Trigaux, the 15 min+ Jack The Ripper, with the harmonium dictating the slow and lugubrious ambiance, with Denis’s percussions providing most of the interest in the early part, before the violin first and the bassoon next bring the track to the next level of intensity. The albums wraps up on the Trigaux-penned En Temps Voulu track which brings many shivers of angst, which pretty well repeats what has been said before.
Hérésie is one of those albums that must be played only when the listener’s moods are suitably ready for it. Compared to the rather short 1313, this 50-minute monster is quite a step upwards and forward in their musical search, but can be a bit long at times. Not recommended for the faint-hearted.
Line-up:
- Michel Berckmans – bassoon, oboe
- Daniel Denis – drums, percussion
- Patrick Hanappier – viola, violin
- Roger Trigaux – guitar, piano, organ, harmonium
- Guy Segers – bass, voice
Track List:
01. La Faulx (25:18)
02. Jack the Ripper (13:29)
03. Vous le Saurez en Temps Voulu (12:56)
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Univers Zero – 1313 (1977) (@192)
12 Feb 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
What a slap in the face Univers Zero gives you in terms of an introduction to their music. I cannot think of one group that dared so much at once in their debut album as Univers Zero did at the time, bar some other RIO outfits. Mostly an acoustic band (bar the bass and some of Trigaux’s guitars), the music coming out here is a cross of Zappa (Uncle Meat), meeting Henry Cow, Bela Bartok or Charles Ives, yet it has a distinct rock flavour, but maybe not in a widely-accepted manner. Thev music is anything but light hearted, rather sombre and oppressive always flirting with dissonances, but never going over the top with them (as was frequently the case with Henry Cow). If I can be so naďve as to remind you that Univers Zero is one of the six signataires of the Rock In Opposition chart, you might just understand that Univers Zero is as much about their music as they are about aesthetics of their music. For this debut album, Univers Zero is a septet and the huge majority of instrument used are of the classical persuasion.
It is of course never easy to describe such difficult music, with either words or images, but the acoustic world that Univers Zero is presenting us is a dark, nightly, rather solemn and sinister underworld made of ambiances and angst of finding sheer horror round the street corner in London’s smog late nineteenth century. The 14-min+ Ronde is a wild opener, with the violin taking first role, while the much shorter Carabosse (after the fairy-witch) is more in the space of Berckmans’ bassoon while Daniel Denis’ amazing and inventive drumming and percussions rules the backtracks.
If the first side of the vinyl was mostly Daniel Denis’ works, the second side will be Roger Trigaux’s oeuvre. Not that good old Roger’s “songwriting” is any lighter than Daniel’s, far from it, but his music is clearly more rhythmic and repetitive. As on the previous side, the music hovers between Stravinsky and Balkanic oriented “folk-classical” music with some strong Magma influencers (Denis did play for the group and remains nowadays a friend of the Vander tribe) and represents one of the best example of chamber rock. In some ways their music can be likened to early Gryphon (the acoustic and instrumental nature of the music), but UZ is nothing medieval.
Please note that Univers Zero’s music is not easily accessible to the average Joe and therefore cannot be easily recommended to everyone. But in their genre, this group represents peak of what can be done in that kind of music. And this is only their first album of a lenghty career. Certainly a more influential band than a popular one, Univers Zero is one of the gardians of the progressive music’s integrity.
Line-up:
- Michel Berckmans / bassoon
- Daniel Denis / percussion
- Marcel Dufrane / violin
- Christian Genet / bass
- Patrick Hanappier / violin, viola, pocket cello
- Emmanuel Nicaise / harmonium, spinet
- Roger Trigaux / guitar
Track List:
01. Ronde (14:45)
02. Carabosse (3:40)
03. Docteur Petiot (7:25)
04. Malaise (7:42)
05. Complainte (3:18)
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