FULMINES REGULARIS

MUSIQUE NOISE released their debut album in 1989 called "Fulmines Regularis". It would be re-issued in 2002 with 4 extra songs worth over 30 minutes of music. They even changed the title of the the re-issue to "Fulmines Integralis". And with the extra tracks it's over 73 minutes long. Those bonus tracks by the way were supposed to be part of a second album that unfortunately never materialized with the band breaking up. These extra songs were recorded in 1992.

There are some absolute classic Zeuhl albums that were released in the first half of the eighties. By 1989 though not many were left standing. MAGMA would release an alternate version of "MDK", while this new band MUSIQUE NOISE sort of came out of nowhere. Okay they are from France and the biggest complaints you will read about them is that they sound like a carbon copy of MAGMA. And while this is true, it is specifically the vocals that are MAGMA 101. The music not as much. But they nailed the vocals. A male singer who is amazing, and he's from RIALZU who released a classic Zeuhl album in 1978. He's playing sax here as well. We get two classically trained female singers, who like the male vocalist absolutely nail the MAGMA vocal lines. It is really surprising how much this sounds like MAGMA vocally.

What makes this sound different from MAGMA is the lack of a Zeuhl rhythm. The bass just isn't given that role of being fuzzed out and upfront. Besides the RIALZU member, we get two original ESKATON members here on keyboards and drums. This is a legit Zeuhl album all the way. This is not a new style of music for this band. So yes there's a bit of a conflict because I will admit lowering many ratings for albums that seem like a copy of another band. Originality counts for something. But there's also been many like this one where I just have to acknowledge that this is an amazing record.

And again to be fair, the instrumental part of this equation is where they bring in their own ideas. These ideas by the way are even more original on those 4 bonus tracks meant for that second album. A different flavour, and an exciting prospect as it could have been a classic. And again, it would have been "out of time" as it were for that Zeuhl style in the early 90's. They set this re-issue album up with the four bonus tracks fitting between the original final two tracks. So you can't skip them? Or to make it seem more natural perhaps as an album . They clearly were proud of what they had composed and recorded, more original sounding. It's just too bad that second record didn't happen. Now I noticed this band did finally release album number two in 2016! With the same core lineup, which slipped past me at the time and it's probably long gone. But it would be cool to hear that one to see where they went musically compared to the demo tracks and the original MAGMA inspired album.

The male vocals on the demo tracks are more adventerous and prominent, while one of the females is gone, and the other has a reduced role. Again that second release would have had a different flavour for sure, and that being much less MAGMA sounding. Sax and electric piano lead the way instrumentally on this record. For what it's worth they brought in a second sax player for what would have been that second record. A jazzier sound for sure.

This is an incredibly well done recording with some credible Zeuhl participants, and there's no way I'm not giving this 4 stars. I really dig this one despite the MAGMA inspired vocals. And it's 1989! Yes, a bleak time for my music.

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