ART ZOYD 3 [AKA: SYMPHONIE POUR LE JOUR OÙ BRÛLERONT LES CITÉS]

The music of 'Art Zoyd' is similar to that of contemporaries 'Univers Zero' and 'The Present' in that one could consider it contemporary art music which has a level of intensity and drive in common with rock music - here largely thanks to the bass guitar and the propulsive rhythms and forceful playing of the virtuoso ensemble.

The instrumentation of Art Zoyd on this album (lacking a drum kit and being light on electric guitars - and with prominent violins and winds) also adds weight to the art music classification. In a way the dark atmosphere and its use of spiky repetitive figurations reminds me of some the music of Louis Andriessen (e.g. De Staat) - and I wonder what analysis has been done, if any, to compare Belgian RIO to Dutch post-minimalism and its New York and UK offshoots - is there a connection?

The vocals - when they occur (in about 15% of the music here) are completely unconventional in any rock sense - sounding demented and tortured.

The harmonic language is very chromatic (favouring 2nds and tritones), but the measured repetition provides the listener with the necessary clarity.

The production is wonderfully clean and clear and the ensemble EXTREMELY tight with numerous quick fire unison passages and the execution of complex interlocking rhythmic figures - just listen to the closing 3 mins of 'Simulacres'!

This is very special music... created to exist where the visceral meets the intellectual.

Share this ART ZOYD review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Neil C
• Report this review (#173632)
• Buy ART ZOYD music online with PA partners
• Show all ART ZOYD MP3/Stream
• Go to ART ZOYD page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Art Zoyd 3 [aka: Symphonie pour le jour où brûleront les Cités] page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for ART ZOYD related discussions