MUSIQUE POUR L'ODYSS�E

Art Zoyd

RIO/Avant-Prog

3.88 | 119 ratings

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octopus-4
Special Collaborator
RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams

First of all I have to confess that this is my first approach to Art Zoyd and to their music and I have listened to this album only few times.

My very first impression is that the contamination with classical music is as strong as in Magma, with the significant difference of being contaminated by chamber music and contemporary classics more than by opera, unlike Magma, however the epic side long track which gives the name to the album has a lot of Zeuhl. In particular I have enjoyed the second part of the epic with slow tempo, strings and brasses in a smooth crescendo and obsessive percussions. Is this really inspired by Odyssey? Giving that the poem is full of very dark moments I think yes even if the "Hey" cried by the choir at the end let's us suppose a live crew instead of the hero's homecoming and the final battle in his house.

"Bruit, Silence, Repos" is able to give me the same sensations of the best Magma albums and in addition the classic element is even more relevant. When I sometimes turn to classical music, "The Rites of Spring" is one of the things I listen to more often and I see many contact points specially after the short pause of silence after 2 minutes. This track gives also the opportunity to Zaboitzeff to show how skilled he is on bass other than on viola. The thin flute which follows is incredibly dark. Incredible in the sense that an instrument which in classical music is often used to represent birds and nature here sounds dark. The violin and bass part which later leads to a short uptime section with brasses is the highlight of this track.

Trio "Lettre D'Automne" closes the album with 7 minutes dominated by violin and viola with a very "classical" structure. It's the most approachable of the three tracks but is in line with the others in terms of mood. I have a particular feeling when I listen to this kind of music. Have you present when you are relaxed, about to fall asleep but still awaken? Thoughts suddenly come and go as well as hypnagogic images. Your mind is ready to start a trip to a mysterious land full of soft colors.

This music (as well as Stravinskij) is able to put me in a state like this. If your mind is in the same conditions it's the right moment to listen to this "excellent addition".

octopus-4 | 4/5 | 2011-9-22

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