DOPPELGÄNGER

This excellent 4 track ep sees Pochakiate Malko exploring their Zeuhl influences in depth, and impressive stuff it is too. As on their preceding album, piano and organ are the dominant keyboard sounds and the violin takes the lead most of the time.

It opens with a growling bass line worthy of Jannick Top followed by primal drumming, a brief organ chord and then some truly demented violin completes the picture. The 4 tracks all cover similar territory, giving the 4 musicians room to stretch out without ever straying into self indulgent noodling. This is the sound of Magma circa 1974 with Didier Lockwood, filtered through the prism of Japanese Zeuhl maestros Koenjihyakkei, played with the kind of jaw dropping chops that seem almost commonplace among Japanese underground musicians. There are plenty of contrasts and sudden changes of tempo here, including what sounds like a recorder duet on Anna, and the shifting dynamics have been superbly recorded.

It's a less varied set than the superb Laya album - Junzo Tateiwa's beloved ethnic percussion is absent, and the world music influences likewise take a back seat most of the time, but it's an exhilerating ride and thoroughly recommended to any Magma or Koenjihyakkei fans. It will also be appreciated by fans of LTIA/Starless era King Crimson, and anybody who finds Magma's vocals off putting may find this more to their taste.