ARCHAÏA

Clearly influenced by Magma but also different to anything Zeuhl-themed that came before, owing to a lack of both drums and strings. An eerie psychedelic sound is generated with bass driving the rhythm, heavy use of synths and Zeuhl style vocals. Its both hypnotic and creepy in equal measure.

For me though, that lack of top class drumming from the class of Vander, Truong etc., means there's something missing. It doesn't really hold my attention beyond the opening track for a good half an hour, but then I did enjoy the closer, Vol Du Phénix, with minimal spacey guitars and cymbals.

Definitely worth a listen for fans of anything remotely influenced by Zeuhl, but didn't quite do it for me.