CEUX DU DEHORS

Third album from this stunning but sombre group and one of the highest rated from fans and often cited as THE UZ album. I can only agree partly with this, as from UZ's early acoustic phase, CDD is their best, but after this album, will come a more electric phase (only slightly, though) and the Next album Uzed stands as my fave. Gone is Roger Trigaux (one of the two composers) to form his own group Present, but this was no acrimonious departure as Daniel Denis will be the drummer in that band also. Andy Kirk replaces him on keyboards. A few guest musicians come and help also.

Although UZ has dropped the color black as their only one, the least we can say is that their artwork is not anymore joyous than before. A close-up photo of The Witchstone and its dungeon next to it set up the gloomy and doomy ambiances. The 12-min+ Dense is a fiery "introduction" with Mellotrons layers underlined a strong harmonium, woodwinds and violin under the heavy duty Segers/Denis rhythm section. The middle section is rather quieter, but not any less worrisome, but Berckmans oboe draws wonders. Following this monster track is the no-less impressive (but very oppressive;-) La Corne, which is downright macabre with a few out of this world vocals and its church organ. We are definitely more in the classical music than in the rock spectrum with this track. Closing the first side is an almost danceable and considerably lighter Bonjour Chez Vous. Gothic is the word to describe this oeuvre.

The second side opens on the almost 13-min Kirk-penned Combat, with its war-like march beats, its calm before the battle, its battlesounds and full blown grandeur. Followed by a rather bizarre improv based on a HP Lovecraft novel, the rather flat Corbeau and a glorious first version of Triomphe Des Mouches, a track that will make the link with the following album (and you'll find an extended live version of it in the Crawling Winds compilation), the album tends to lose a bit focus

To this writer, this album is maybe going a bit too far (or over the top, if you wish), a bit like Yes with Tales or Tull with Passion Play (in a completely different tone, of course) and if it is a fan-favourite, definitely not mine.

Share this UNIVERS ZERO review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Sean Trane
• Report this review (#7594)
• Buy UNIVERS ZERO music online with PA partners
• Show all UNIVERS ZERO MP3/Stream
• Go to UNIVERS ZERO page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Ceux Du Dehors page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for UNIVERS ZERO related discussions