NEGATIVE ZONE

There have been a lot of bands over the years who have been described as sounding like PINK FLOYD, but I have never heard a band sound as much like PINK FLOYD as the French band NEGATIVE ZONE. And as it is apparent that PINK FLOYD won't be recording any new material any time soon (if ever), this record is just what many FLOYD fans want. Although lets face it a lot of people prefer bands who are more original if that's possible these days. This isn't eighties sounding FLOYD, this is late sixties, early seventies FLOYD. There is the psychedelic silliness found on the first two tracks that reminds me of "Pipers At The Gates Of Dawn", which for me are the weakest. It's the rest of the album for me that shines brighter.

"The Stack" is a short instrumental that is a little creepy to begin with. Lots of atmosphere while late in the song it gets chaotic and louder. "Don't Sleep Part 1" is a great track ! My favourite. Spacey synths, strummed guitar and Gilmour-like vocals. Love the organ that comes in at 3 1/2 minutes. A dead calm arrives 6 minutes in, it becomes quite haunting, and at the seven minute mark it is even MORTE MACABRE-like. "Who Are We" has a nice heavy sound. The tempo picks up as the angular guitar comes and goes.The melody stops 3 minutes in as we get lots of atmosphere to the end of the song. "Farewell" has a line in it that goes "...see you soon on the dark side of the moon". I've heard that somewhere before I think ? The song itself sounds like it came off the "Meddle' album.

"Fly Away" has a great sound to it once it kicks in. Heavy psychedelic. "Don't Sleep Part 2" has a fantastic organ intro and the vocals may be at their best here.The guitar seems to echo. This song reminds me of the band FIRST BAND FROM OUTER SPACE. "Hold Out Your Hand" is another good track, it's gentle, fragile, beautiful with Gilmour-like guitars. "Island" is similar as well, soft vocals and flute added too. The song "Negative Zone" is rather atmospheric, and it intensifies at the six minute mark with some energetic drumming and great guitar.

If your a fan of early PINK FLOYD this album was made for you !