NEGATIVE TOE

3.5 stars. I'm bumping this one up. CAMEMBERT were a six piece band out of France who released two studio albums before calling it a day. The core trio of this band have gone on to form a new band called OIAPOK which continues in the CAMEMBERT tradition. Lots of cheese! Clearly GONG was a huge influence on these guys with their concept about aliens and cheese(not weed). Their debut "Schnorgl Attahk" is the better album of the two as it even incorporates some zeuhl to the proceedings. Instrumentally it had Frank Zappa's jazz period all over it. All I could think about was Zappa with all the vibes, xylophone and multiple horns.

"Nagative Toe" continues with the science fiction concept but the zeuhl has been pretty much taken out, not the Zappa though. Even more horns on this one with all the guests involved, and even the six musicians play more instruments on here. The only lineup change is a new drummer, but the old one is here as a guest, credited with the drum arrangements on four of the six songs. I like how the album starts with that dark atmosphere and space transmissions. Alien voices(gasp). The second track is over 15 minutes long, while the fifth song is almost 15 minutes long, both taking up the bulk of the 57 minutes. There's a SANTANA vibe with all the percussion sounds on that second tune, but man this one is all over the place.

I'm not big on the third track with all the horns and beats. It's more Zappa-like during the second half. Not big on the next one "The Lament Of Pr. Frankenschnorgl" either but man "Skwitch" the second last track that is almost 15 minutes long, makes up for it. The way it builds so slowly and those powerful sections that come and go. It's dark and experimental late. The closer "El Pulpo" opens with the sounds of sea gulls and waves in an ominous atmosphere before we hear someone whistling. It's like we are at the docks. The last sounds of CAMEMBERT right there.

A very low 4 stars, but get the debut "Schnorgl Attahk" if you can, especially if your a Zappa fan.