WEIDORJE

Paganotti & Gauthier formed a group to record this album under the name of a track they wrote and recorded for Magma's Udu Wudu album. As a result, this full Weidorje album takes themes from that track, and that era of Magma, to create 3 tracks, plus two live bonuses.

The side-long suite Elohim's voyage starts off with an alien sounding intro, perhaps an abduction by the UFO on the album cover. Zeuhl-style scat vocals join in, alongside a great slow head-nodder of a bassline and backed up by slowly increasing metronomic drumming. Guitars, keys and saxophone all chip in to add a bit of variety to this before the bassline shifts rhythm slightly around the 7 minute mark, fading away and returning with a crescendo of trumpet, keys and guitars, with a chorus of vocals adding an eerie feel a couple of minutes later. On 12 minutes, the bass disappears entirely, and its the brass and keys that lead the line - very reminiscent of Magma at this point.

Vilna is very much in the same style, although starting with a catchy keyboard riff that features throughout - the bass is just as heavy and driving of the track, but there is a bit more variety in the rhythms. A particular highlight is on 8 minutes with the trumpet and sax riffing over a repetitive rollicking drum/bass that picks up the pace beat by beat and continues right to the end of the track with some vocal accompaniment too.

Booldemug is a shorter track (still 7 minutes though!), and is much jazzier, and a little more upbeat. The interplay between the brass instruments and keyboard are excellent.

The two live tracks are obviouosly slightly lower quality, particularly a shame for Rondeau where the bass is not as strong. Kolinda though is a great track that is quite similar to the two longer album tracks.

Painfully close to a 4* album this, although the main tracks being quite similar to each other keep it at 3 for me