PSEU

Pseu was a french band that existed between 1979 and 1983. Pseu can be described as a Magma meets Gentle Giant mainly because of the dark mood, as well as from the dynamic rythm section typical from Zeuhl, as well to be compared to King Crimson's fiercey and dissonance in the times of Adrian Belew, specially in Biguine, with guitars and melody typical of Discipline, but also featuring some quirky vocals ala Magma.

Magma's Attahk presence: Satno Danse is definitely similar to Attahk in style, despite the lack of fusion remiscent of Attahk, but the more accesible zeuhl style of Attahk without doubt is here. Mind you, the Crimson influence is also here, the dissonance, the avant-garde presence, all here making one single song. The song itself has a tight rythm all along the song, in which few ocassions it changes tempo. A bit repetitive composition-wise, but musically it's very good.

Vidance is another one in the vein of Attahk(but in the darker aspects), specially Maahnt's darkness and The Last Seven Minutes rythm section. Though the composition is defintely more in the style of Maahnt, dark development with excellent bass playing. A bit to dark for my taste, but take the dark out, and the song is very good.

Demascarade is the brighter side of the album, with a bit of Weather Report chilling key/bass touches, and Attahk's happy side. With a excellent development, from the soft and slow intro, it starts speeding up, with a lot of jazz fusion remiscence, with a excellent guitar solo, vocals very ala Magma, appear giving it a classic Zeuhl feel. Definitely the best song on the album.

''The mini-epic'': Simulacre is divided in 2 songs, wisely because they really don't join together. The first part is in the style of Attahk from Magma like the previous song, with the fusion style in it. Also there's some Zappa alike melodies/chords throughout the song, making the song more avant-gardist than fusion, still the great jazzy bass and piano are present. The second ''part''(song) is a tenebrous one, with a dark climax all through the song, not creating even a hair of enjoyability. The composition also reminds me to The Devil's Triangle by King Crimson, just that the haunting mood isn't created by the mellotron in here.

One more dark tune: Miroir joins the somber realm of Vidance and Simulacre(part 2), just that this one may be the best one of the 3, with some great guitar touches, and excellent bass like always. The last 2 minutes of the song are pretty much my cup-of-tea, in the happy/motivating style of Attahk by Magma, with cheerful vocals(despite I don't understand them), those 2 last minutes save this track from my skip-pressing. Don't get me wrong, as I said earlier, it has a great composition, but too dark for my style.

To finish, I'll round it up saying this is, as you already noticed, a very somber Zeuhl album, a bit darker that from what I know from Magma, as well as having a less avant-garde style characteristic from the early, classic Magma, so as I named before, this is more in the style of Attahk, because of the fusion elements, and more accesible compositions(less avant-agarde), though without doubt with great musicianship.

Not sure which rate I must give this one, because it's not reallly a bad album, either a excellent one, though there are moments which I think this is not for me(poor), though on other moments I think wow, this is excellent. I'll be fair, and give it a solid 3 stars.

Dark fusion(with avant moments) and quirky music lovers, this might appeal you.

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