Customer Reviews

Implosion

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not going to be very talkative here, but I couldn't believe that this fine album had no customer reviews!

If you enjoyed recent Univers Zero (Rhythmix, The Hard Quest), you owe it to yourself to check out this album.

It contains a darkness and intensity similar to Rhythmix, but with very effective added atmospheric sections. These soundscapes remind me of parts of Tool's Aenima, or some aspects of King Crimson's The Power To Believe. Loosely.

If I can say anything negative, it is that the there are no huge surprises for those familiar with Denis' recent dark-chamber / electric-renaissance stylings.
While the structures and motifs remain familiar, the tracks themselves contain plenty to occupy the listener, and I suspect most will find that there is room for more of this music yet.

For those trying to acquire the biggest variety of music on a budget, you may want to skip this one if you have Rhythmix or The Hard Quest. I have both of those and have not bought this album yet, though I intend to eventually.

For those who do not have any recent Univers Zero, this disc is just as worthy as the last few, perhaps moreso. If you prefer a little more balance of light as well as dark, you may want to start with The Hard Quest, however.

2 1/2


Filler-centric avant-prog doesn't have the content to capture like past releases but as engaging background can work well.

This album is a return to form for Univers Zero, and is easily the best of the three albums that the new incarnation of the band has released (The Hard Quest and Rhythmix being the other two).

Having said that, listeners only familiar with UZ's work in the 70's and 80's may be disappointed with what they hear. This hardly sounds like the same band that produced Heresie and Ceux du Dehors. The dark arrangements found on those albums are noticeably lacking here, save for the short transition tracks (e.g., "Miroirs", "Ectoplasme", "Bacteria") and "La Mort de Sophocle". Instead, UZ bandleader and percussionist extraordinaire Daniel Denis has crafted a set of mostly short songs which, strangely enough, sound fairly happy and accessible. Many of the tracks, such as "Falling Rain Dance" (perhaps the album's highlight) and "Rapt d'Abdallah" are almost catchy. "Temps Neufs" is perhaps the most strikingly radical track, with an incredibly jazzy, bouncy feel to it. Taken together, the work here is certainly a departure from previous UZ offerings, but are also refreshing, in that it demonstrates Denis' creative brilliance finding new modes of expression.

This album does have its flaws, however. The aforementioned "transition" tracks are all similarly insipid and are little better than filler. The track "Out of Space 4" is also rather superfluous, sounding too much like a weak imitation of "Falling Rain Dance." Nevertheless, this is truly an excellent album, and ranks favorably with many of the band's previous works.

Favorite Tracks: "Falling Rain Dance", "Rapt d'Abdallah", "Temps Neufs"

Yes, everything seems to be here, all the sounds and style I thought were so great I'd never grow tired of them. But maybe I have. Or at least of this band's production of them. It's still way good, esp. if you've never heard U0 or avant-prog. But America is where it's at for avant these days -- Thinking Plague and Motor Totemist Guild's albums are retaining their interest for me and others. And yes, I am over 13...