WEIDORJE

Weidorje was a short-lived splinter from the Magma family, even taking its name from the second piece on Üdü Ẁüdü. Their only official release is refreshingly not as repetitive as many Zeuhl albums can be, visiting a number of musical ideas, developing them, and then moving on. The vocals are extremely subtle, and the music throughout the album is varied and accessible. Weidorje is an excellent entry point in one progressive rock's most convoluted and divisive genres.

"Elohim's Voyage" The star of this psychedelic journey is Bernard Paganotti's fuzzy, flatulent bass. He develops a variety of grooves over which the more Zeuhl elements can hover. The singers are distant and foreboding, matched with lighter instrumentation. "Elohim's Voyage" ("Elohim" being the Hebrew word for God) crafts several builds that taper off into something different each time. It is a satisfying piece with plenty of substance.

"Vilna" Electric piano trickles in. As the piece gains intensity, a violin-like tone paints over the music. An adventurous trumpet bursts through as the tempo increases to a breakneck pace.

"Booldeug" The third and final piece has a fuller sound immediately, but an ethereal 1980s vibe sets in. This is the smoothest and jazziest cut. There is also a measure of symphonic style present, especially right before and during the wild synthesizer solo. The sudden appearance of the electric guitar is an invigorating surprise.