Customer Reviews

Surface to Air

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

 

 

Lynn Belvedere was somewhat negative in her review; often comparing this band to Yes and Genesis. Those two bands are not what Zombi are going for! Sit down and watch "Escape From New York" or "Dawn Of The Dead (1978)" and you'll see exactly what this band is going for. You will also find that this band not only captures it perfectly, but also adds their own little touch to it.

I remember years back when I bought the "Zombi" LP by Goblin, I thought I'd never find another album (let alone BAND) that sounded anything like that. Thankfully Zombi has come along.

Really, imagine if you will...Rush circa 1980 gives Alex Lifeson a break, recruits John Carpenter and decides to form a Tangerine Dream tribute band on the side...behold the majesty of Zombi! Using vintage keyboards, these two dudes conjure up epics that will feed those whom are starving for some heavy duty Korg action! Accompanied by some tastefully busy drumming (just admit it-the dude from Mastodon goes a bit too far at times), these two dudes bring the nerd jams. If you own "1984", "Moving Pictures", and think the theme to "Assault on Precinct 13" is rad, buy this immediately. Synth heaven!!!

It took me awhile to really appreciate these guys repetitive nature, combining the synth and heavy bass and drums. When I first heard Zombi at a show they completly transfixed me with what they were doing. Here was Yes without the ridiculous wanking and Rush without Geddy's voice and Lifeson's overplaying. The music from that night is on "Surface to Air", not "Cosmos". That is why this album is important to me. I have "Cosmos" also, but to me, this album has more texture. It is a more interesting ride than "Cosmos". This is a good album. But it is not for everyone. For me, its great.

I've seen this complaint/compliment throw around regarding this band: they sound too much like (insert band name here) from the 70's, or such-and-such horror soundtrack, etc. Certainly, this group Zombi is nothing astoundingly original, but their sound is a loving and exacting tribute, if nothing else, to the most creative and inspired music of the 70's and even 80's.

The band consists of two musicians (I won't go into names or minute details), who between the two of them play synthesizers, bass guitar and drums. As far as comparisons goes, this music is most similar to many current groups which were most prolific and interesting in their heyday: Tangerine Dream, Rush, Genesis, and others. One of the groups biggest influences, however, is the Italian group Goblin, who most famously created soundtracks for directors Dario Argento and George Romero (Zombi is the Italian name for the classic movie/soundtrack Dawn of the Dead).

I hate to critique music these days, but I want to end with this: it's nothing that will shake the foundations of the world, but Zombi's music is exciting, adventurous, and fun. The drums are amongst the best I've heard in my rather brief but music-absorbed life, and the synthesizers are pure vintage 70's Moog and likewise. Tracks 2 & 3 are my favorites - they have simple, synth & sequencer driven riffs with tons of layering and interplay from the drums and bass. The rhythms are rather static, but they build up to incredible heights. It's hard to describe, as you can see, but the results are fantastic. Check it out!

As to Paul Menderczuck's statement "people did not use synthesizers in the '70's..." I say HA. Let's see, there's Weather Report's output, Pink Floyd, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tangerine Dream, Stevie Wonder, and hell, even Elton John! Oh yeah, "Switched On Bach" is ENTIRELY synthesizer (oh wait, that came out in 1968! I guess that WASN't in the 70's!). Then of course the synth solo on "Lucky Man" (damn! 1969!) "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (1969 again!) and... oh well You get the Idea. Also the mention of "Assault on Precinct 13" coming out "...WAY before Genesis". Double HA. Carpenter's movie came out in 1976, (oh wait.. people didn't use synths in the '70's...) whereas Genesis' FIRST record "From Genesis To Revelation" came out in 1969. Sorry to (now affecting the creepy accent of the ghost waiter from "The Shining") CORRECT you Mr. Menderczuck, but clearly you ARE mistaken. Oh, wait I was writing a review of the Zombi record...

Not bad, though the influences are apparent(Duh). I guess they're "post" post-modern (a band that plays songs in the style of specific movie soundtracks by other specific bands?!).

I'd still recommend the old school soundtracts by Tangerine Dream, Goblin, and Wendy Carlos.

Zombi's influences which include Tangerine Dream, Genesis, Pink Floyd are apparent only to the extent that they attempt heavy classic synth sounds with a flair for the dramatic. Where they fall way short is their song writing skills. Almost every song sounds like the prelude to something that is about to get interesting but.... it never does. Zombi never expands on their initial melody. The sounds are full, rich and powerful for anyone who loves classic progressive synth-based bands. Unfortunately having the instruments to make those sounds doesn't qualify you as a great band. The bands that influenced them crafted amazing and memorable songs. Zombi tinkers with grand machines and only a handful of notes.

Zombi seem to have some influences based in 70's progressive rock. They use some swell keyboard sounds. The one thing they do not inherit from 70's progressive rock is the ability to write compositions. Zombi do not even write songs. Basically, you get very long and repetitive soundscapes, with keyboards that sound like they were lifted from 30 second fragments of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (all the simple ones... They don't have the skill to do the manual arpeggiations that Tony Banks was capable of, nor do they know how to integrate sequencers into their music, which could at least make up for the lack of talent)

Honestly, you could do much better buying 70's Genesis or Yes albums. There are also many other bands today that take on the progressive rock heritage with more more prowess. Heck, I'd take Dream Theater over these guys any day.

That said, they are what they are. As a opening band at $10 indie rock shows, I'd rather see Zombi than some 80's wankers in white belts or suits. They do, however, fall far from the prog tree, apart from some almost plaigeristic lifting of keyboard riffs from Genesis albums. The music doesn't really go anywhere. It's not even songwriting. You'd hope for some change -- a chorus, verse, coda... Anything!

The funny thing is the audience eats this stuff up. The same sort of 20-something hipsters who would laugh at you if you said you're a Genesis or Yes fan. They have no clue how much better the original stuff is... It's original, and extremely well done. Zombi is derivative and poorly done. Most people don't know enough about the history of rock music to figure out how un-great Zombi are.

Their jump on the indie-prog wagon is even tired and derivative. Yes, another 2 piece indie-prog band. How original.

These guys are great. I like the classic 80's synth sound.

It's so funny to see these reviews where people say they sound like Genesis, Pink Floyd or Yes. Ha! This sounds nothing like Owner of a Lonely Heart, Learning to Fly, or Invisible Touch. This is cool indie synth music, from the dawn of synthesizer technology, in the 1980's.

It says in the "from the artist" section that they sound like Genesis. Well, these guys don't know what they really sound like. They sound like 80's horror film movies. Assult on Precinct 13 and the like, which was WAY before Genesis.

Also, they are not going for some 70's rock sound. People did not use synthesizers in the 70's. They used organs and pianos and played church music rock. Boring! The 80's are so kewl! These guys don't sound like Iron Butterfly or Led Zepplin. That is 70's music.

Soundscapes and repetition ARE modern music. No one wants to hear some hippy noodling. We want the clean lines of modernity, not some musical doilies. Zombi is a nice addition to my collection of downbeat electronica.

The musicians in Zombi are so great, they could do anything they want. But they hold back, because no one wants to hear the excesses of classic rock. Indie rock's new motto is "less is more". It's true, especially if you look kewl.

I love electronica and 80's music. These guys are so great. They are almost as cool as Harold Faltermyer. Please make another album fast. I know it must take eons to come up with this stuff, but maybe you can take some more "go-fast" and make it so! This is the music of Piccard's Star Trek!