Osiris

Zao (Heavy Metal), Zao | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 2003)
• Original Release Date: January 1, 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Musea
• ASIN: B0000CBFBM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,849 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #23 in Music > Indie Music > Christian & Gospel > Rock

Track Listings

1. Shardaz

2. Isis

3. Reinna

4. Yog

5. La Rhune

6. Montreal

Editorial Reviews

ZAO proposes through its albums a fusion of rock, jazz, Hungarian folk influences and the mark of modern composers (BARTOK, STRAVINSKI...). Created in 1973 by two former MAGMA members, Yochk'o SEFFER (Saxophone) and François "FATON" CAHEN (Keyboards), the band offers a music with complex writing. The compositions are very sophisticated, where saxophone and piano play themes with strange tones. "Z=7L" is their first album with Mauricia PLATON's superb voice. On "Osiris" (1974), a classical string quartet participated to the orchestration. "Kawana" is a bit more jazz-rock oriented. "Typhareth" is the last album of the band, recorded shortly after Yochk'o SEFFER left, closer to American jazz-rock ala WEATHER REPORT. "Akhenaton" is the album from the band's reunion in 1994 and its come back to its original music. An essential band from the Seventies musical French scene !

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Magma Offshoot, October 6, 2004

By 

P. McKenna "theowlwatches" (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Osiris (Audio CD)

This disc focuses more on the purely instrumental side of the Zeuhl sub-genre' of progressive rock that Magma founded. Whatever vocals appear are of the wordless variety, used as another instrumental texture.

At times the influence of Weather Report can be felt along with strains of Stravinsky and East European classical music of the 20th Century. Overall, the pieces have very strong and haunting melodies, great interaction between the players and at times a somewhat uneasy atmosphere, especially on "Reinna" with its frantic violin, insistent percussive pulse and spooky violin interjections throughout.

Highly recommended