z.a.r.p.e.k. (O-Z) XVII

So i picked ZAO. This is one of my favourite Zeuhl albums. Cahen on electric piano, Seffer on sax, Truong on drums all just kill. Freaking hired guns these guys are. Then add Mauricia on vocals and well it really is unique in the ZAO discography because of her vocals. She only sang on this one for them and yes some find her vocals too much but i love them. Oh i almost forgot the growly deep bass lines of Joel Dugreno.

Coma Divine with Stratosfear as a close second.

Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: Mellotron Storm wrote: Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: Piper is a very good album, one of my favorite Floyd's. Similarly I could easily vote for TD, Samla, Present & Zao. But I gotta go with Heresie, it's not my favorite UZ (that would be Ceux Du Dehors), but it's a gloomy dark atmospheric monster. In fact I think I'll play it at work tomorrow. As dark as Heresie is that PRESENT album sure is creeppy at times. The 4 part suite "The Limping Little Girl" is an example of this. Dave Kerman who drums on here once said he didn't want to know what the cover art was about.. Macksoud who played with Kerman in 5UU'S and Chevalier who joined Kerman on an ARANIS record are fantastic on here as well. I love this PRESENT album and probably rate it as my fav from them. By the way i have a Heresie t-shirt with the album cover of them standing in the foggy swamp. Very cool. Yep, No6 is a really creepy album, I like it a lot, I have a real tough time picking amongst Present albums. I have that Heresie T-Shirt as well, I can be seen wearing it in the Romantic Warriors RIO DVD. I will probably be wearing it, and my Got RIO? shirt, at ROSfest this year.

It's my t-shirt of choice as well Ian when i go to a concert. I guess you probably got your from Wayside Music like i did.

Edited by Mellotron Storm - January 14 2013 at 20:10

someone_else wrote: Coma Divine with Stratosfear as a close second.

Coma Divine hhas been mentioned a lot so good to see it finally get a vote. It's such a great live document of their early years.

I'm surprised to vote for Yatha Sidhra's A Meditation Mass.  I really love that album, and still keep listening to it quite regularly.  My second choice, and it is one that I also adore, is the ZAO -- also one of my favourite albums in Zeuhl, and it is my favourite Zao album.  Terrific.  Heresie would be my third choice, and it is an awesome album.  It was my first UZ album to get, and was quite daunting at first (found other UZ albums easier), unlike most of these albums which were really, really like at first listen.  It was also one of the very first RIO albums I heard.

  Again, of the choices I haven't heard the PT (not a band I've explored that much), and that Tangerine Dream I've only listened to once or twice.

Another very fine poll for my tastes.  Thanks John for doing this.  They're playing a big part in keeping my interest in this section, and I have discovered, and re-discovered some really tasty ones along the way thanks to this series.

I rather hope, but wouldnt expect due to the effort involved, that there'll be a new series from John covering different categories, though Z.A.R.P.E.K. covers the majority of my in-PA collection so I wouldn't expect to know or participate as as much.  I also enjoyed his Jazz and Related series very much.  I might like to do a Prog Folk/ Acid Folk one, but no, too much work, and I wouldn't do justice to it.

What would be kind of neat if perhaps not that meaty, but I wouldn't expect it (though perhaps it is part of the plan), is to do a finals pitting the "winning album" of each of these polls against each-other.

Logan wrote: I'm surprised to vote for Yatha Sidhra's A Meditation Mass.  I really love that album, and still keep listening to it quite regularly.  My second choice, and it is one that I also adore, is the ZAO -- also one of my favourite albums in Zeuhl, and it is my favourite Zao album.  Terrific.  Heresie would be my third choice, and it is an awesome album.  It was my first UZ album to get, and was quite daunting at first (found other UZ albums easier), unlike most of these albums which were really, really like at first listen.  It was also one of the very first RIO albums I heard.   Again, of the choices I haven't heard the PT (not a band I've explored that much), and that Tangerine Dream I've only listened to once or twice.Another very fine poll for my tastes.  Thanks John for doing this.  They're playing a big part in keeping my interest in this section, and I have discovered, and re-discovered some really tasty ones along the way thanks to this series.

I voted for A Meditation Mass as well. The combination of those beautiful lethargic and rather floating sections makes me want to pull out the ol bear skin rug and a big pipe of hashish. Then when the tumultuous climax sets in it's like being hurled into a rainstorm head first. I love everything about this album.

Must admit that I thought you'd pick the circus Swedes...

Logan wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: Logan wrote: I'm surprised to vote for Yatha Sidhra's A Meditation Mass.  I really love that album, and still keep listening to it quite regularly.  My second choice, and it is one that I also adore, is the ZAO -- also one of my favourite albums in Zeuhl, and it is my favourite Zao album.  Terrific.  Heresie would be my third choice, and it is an awesome album.  It was my first UZ album to get, and was quite daunting at first (found other UZ albums easier), unlike most of these albums which were really, really like at first listen.  It was also one of the very first RIO albums I heard.   Again, of the choices I haven't heard the PT (not a band I've explored that much), and that Tangerine Dream I've only listened to once or twice.Another very fine poll for my tastes.  Thanks John for doing this.  They're playing a big part in keeping my interest in this section, and I have discovered, and re-discovered some really tasty ones along the way thanks to this series. I voted for A Meditation Mass as well. The combination of those beautiful lethargic and rather floating sections makes me want to pull out the ol bear skin rug and a big pipe of hashish. Then when the tumultuous climax sets in it's like being hurled into a rainstorm head first. I love everything about this album. Must admit that I thought you'd pick the circus Swedes... I'm not currently as into SMM as I once was.  By the way, I meant to write that I'm surprised to be the first, as I am not surprised at all that Yatha Sidhra got my vote.  It's a wonderful album, and would likely make a top ten albums in PA list by me.

Don't worry Greg, I got you the first time around.
SMM were the first really adventurous and crazy act that I got. I must've been 13 years old purchasing Måltid, and laughing for a week or so after it. I had no idea how to decipher it - let alone appreciate the technical work involved, but something made me return to it. Then it slowly began to resonate with me, and I haven't looked back since.

Incidentally, I saw you posting about your recent Krautrock adoration, and I was just wondering if you know the Swedish kings of the genre called Älgarnas Trädgard? I think you'd enjoy both of their albums immensely.

Logan wrote: I'm surprised to vote for Yatha Sidhra's A Meditation Mass.  I really love that album, and still keep listening to it quite regularly.  My second choice, and it is one that I also adore, is the ZAO -- also one of my favourite albums in Zeuhl, and it is my favourite Zao album.  Terrific.  Heresie would be my third choice, and it is an awesome album.  It was my first UZ album to get, and was quite daunting at first (found other UZ albums easier), unlike most of these albums which were really, really like at first listen.  It was also one of the very first RIO albums I heard.   Again, of the choices I haven't heard the PT (not a band I've explored that much), and that Tangerine Dream I've only listened to once or twice. Another very fine poll for my tastes.  Thanks John for doing this.  They're playing a big part in keeping my interest in this section, and I have discovered, and re-discovered some really tasty ones along the way thanks to this series.

Thankyou Greg as usual for your thoughts. Good to see ZAO getting some attention here. I'm actually surprised to see Heresie doing so well. I'm a big fan of it but i just didn't think it would be getting more votes than Floyd or PT. It's probably my third favourite UZ record and i forgot that Roger Trigaux was still with them at this point before leaving and forming PRESENT. I don't often pick up remastered editions but i did with the Heresie cd and it's worth it to hear the bonus track "Chaoos Hermetique" that Roger composed. Great track !

Logan wrote: I rather hope, but wouldnt expect due to the effort involved, that there'll be a new series from John covering different categories, though Z.A.R.P.E.K. covers the majority of my in-PA collection so I wouldn't expect to know or participate as as much.  I also enjoyed his Jazz and Related series very much.  I might like to do a Prog Folk/ Acid Folk one, but no, too much work, and I wouldn't do justice to it. What would be kind of neat if perhaps not that meaty, but I wouldn't expect it (though perhaps it is part of the plan), is to do a finals pitting the "winning album" of each of these polls against each-other.

It would be nice to keep doing something. I had thought of that after doing the Jazz & related polls ie. take the winners of each or the albums with the most votes or something like that.  There's always a way to mix it up though but i haven't really thought about it much yet.