CRAWLING WIND

UNIVERS ZERO was founded in 1974 and broke up in 1987, and they were one of the bands that founded the Rock In Opposition (R.I.O.) movement. Their music is dark, distinctive and experimental. It's like a blend of avant- garde, chamber music, classical music, jazz-fusion, medieval music, neo-classical and progressive rock. Imagine a mix between ART ZOYD, BÉLA BARTOK, CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, ESKATON, HENRY COW. KING CRIMSON, MAGMA, SOFT MACHINE. IGOR STRAVINSKY, VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, VON ZAMLA and FRANK ZAPPA. The extremely skilled musicians were using both traditional rock instruments and classical instruments such as bass, bass clarinet, bassoon, cello, clarinets, drums, harmonium, harpsichord, keyboards, oboe, piano and violin. "Crawling Wind" was originally released in 1983 as a limited edition, japanese only 12" EP by Eastern Works. This rare and long unavailable 3-track EP has now been re-mastered and available in the CD format with addition of rare never before released studio and live material. "Toujours plus á l'est" and "Before the Heat" were recorded in the studio in 1983 while "Central Belgium in the Dark" was recorded live in Belgium in 1982. The additional tracks are "Influences" (1982), a track originally found on Recommended Records Sampler, "Triomphe Des Mouches", recorded at a concert in Hanover, Germany, from 1984 and "Complainte", recorded at a concert in Leuven, Belgium, from 1979. "Crawling Wind" is a long awaited re-release that thanks to Cuneiform Records has been available again. The band reformed in the late 1990's and released "The Hard Quest" in 1999.

This compilation album of tracks from 79 to 84 is of interest to confirmed fans, but make a disjointed collection of tracks, not really making an album per se. This Cd release (from 2001) is for half the rare Japan-only EP released in 83 and other diverse recordings scattered on different compilations around the afore-motioned dates. One of the interesting bonuses for this album are the incredibly helpful liner notes that give you a rare source of information about UZ's career from their dire straits beginnings until those years which will lead to the more electrical second phase of the group. The text highlights the halcyon days, the link with French groups Magma and Art Zoyd, and give precious anecdotes with the group admitting they would not even know how to play a basic blues track ;-)

By the time this EP was released some more line-up changes had occurred (Berckmans and Hanappier had left with future long standing Descheemaeker making his debut), and Andy Kirk was not the only non-Belgian in the group as violinist Alan Ward had joined them also but will not be present on the following (and groundbreaking) Uzed. So this disc is mostly made up of the 83 EP, and the three tracks are showing rather odd facets of the group that they had gotten us used to before. Toujours Plus A L'Est (Tintin lovers being winked at) is a rather danceable track referring to Eastern Europa trad music, while the ultra-lugubrious Heat track with its sombre foghorn sounds is anecdotic. The Central Belgium is a live track also showing UZ is a very unusual facet, most likely improvising during a power breakdown, and slowly builds an impeccable crescendo.

The second part of the compilation is rather varied, starting with Influences, also from the same line-up as before and found on a double vinyl RIO compilation with its strong Harmonium-laced backtrack. Maybe one of the highlights on this compilation, but still nothing essential for the fan. Le Triomphe Des Mouches actually belongs to the following era and should be linked closely to Uzed, the track quickly sinking below sanity levels yet unsurpassed back then: easily the best track on this disc. The closing Complainte dates back from the Hérésie days but is without Roger Trigaux and has Denis on harmonium.

Rather anecdotic, this release is better kept for confirmed fans of the group, despite the ultra necessary liner-notes. This "album" can represent the ultimate spasms of the first phase of UZ. Will come a little later the very stunning and groundbreaking Uzed, their crowning achievment.

"Crawling Wind" was a 12" EP originally released in Japan only and limited to 1,500 copies. It was the only official release of theirs that had a live track on it until 2006 when they finally released a live record. This EP has since been expanded to a total of 42 1/2 minutes as they've added three more live tracks recorded between 1979 and 1984. After feeling let down by their live album I have to say i'm quite blown away by the live material here.This is what I was expecting on that 2006 release. Namely that intensity and darkness that really gets my blood flowing. A bonus with this EP is the detailed history of the band. This is by far the best biography that i've read about their beginnings. I'd like to relate some of that because it's important for those who may not know it.

Daniel Denis the leader and drummer of this band was invited to join MAGMA while he was playing in the band ARKHAM. This didn't work out too well considering Christian Vander and Daniel are both incredible drummers playing in one band. So after 2 months Daniel left , but he was greatly influenced by his involvement with MAGMA. Denis would join and tour with SUPERSISTER but did not record with them. He left them around 1973 and contacted Segers and Trigaux who along with some others formed a band called NECRONOMICON playing Jazz / Fusion. Eventually the band moved to a small town in Belgium and took to living communally. They devoted all their time and effort to rehearsing. Most of their financial assistance came from parents and spouses. It wasn't enough though as Segers recalls: "In fact we couldn't have another job and create music...we had to struggle. We worked years, day after day wondering "Today will I eat ?" it was really terrible. I heard stories from other bands like HENRY COW and MAGMA, and everybody struggled, but never did I hear anyone going through difficulties that we lived through". They changed their name to UNIVERS ZERO and performed their first concert under that name in in May of 1974. They would become aware of a band called ART ZOYD who were headquartered nearby in Northern France, and viewed them as kindred spirits. They often played together in joint concerts even playing as one large ensemble. "However it was the unusual, if not unique music of MAGMA that pointed the way to musical independence for UNIVERS ZERO. MAGMA's philosophy and music liberated UNIVERS ZERO, permitting them to follow their own music path.

"Toujours Plus A L'est" is a Denis composed track and is unusually bright for a UNIVERS ZERO tune.This sounds incredible though. I like the bass and drums after 2 1/2 minutes and of course the piano work is prominant. Lots of violin too. Lots of instruments are used on this opening track. "Before The Heat" is an Andy Kirk tune and is an eerie, dark and haunting song. "Heresie" comes to mind. The rest of the songs here are live. "Central Belgium In The Dark" is a group effort.This is dark and there's not a lot going on until it slowly becomes fuller. Great sound 8 minutes in as the drums pound and piano plays over top. Sounds like distorted bass too. Creepy choir-like sounds end it.

"Influences" is an Andy Kirk song and previously released on a record sampler. It opens with piano and we get a full sound before a minute including some clarinet and guitar. Violin before 2 1/2 minutes. "Triumphe Des Mouches" is from "Ceux Du Dehors" and is a Denis / Kirk composition. We get this repetitive rhythm as other sounds come and go. It turns eerie after 2 minutes. Percussion and drums before 4 minutes. The sound gets more intense and cello comes in after 5 1/2 minutes. An almost MAGMA-like rhythm around 6 minutes followed by dissonant cello. "Complainte" is a Denis tune that opens with aboe and we also get harmonium and bassoon.

I can't say enough about this album, it's what I expect and love about this band.

Even though this is a compilation of live material it is nothing short of amazing.

The title of the opening track Toujours Plus a L'Est (a little bit more to the East) will ring a bell with fans of the pioneering Belgian comic series Tintin. This song is a typical example of what later would be known as chamber rock in Belgium: chamber music rooted in modernist classical music with eastern folksy themes and a strong anarchistic attitude. Often one or more instruments from rock are added like, in case of Univers Zero, drums and bass.

Before the Heat and Central Belgium In The Dark are entirely different pieces, abstract, experimental and highly evocative music eschewing recognizable melodic patterns but certainly serving as a perfect soundtrack for your Halloween parties. Influences is more accessible, Stravinsky's Petrushka with drums is the description that first comes to mind. Triomphe Des Mouches (Triumph of the Flies) gets as frightening as its title, unsettling harmonies, droning rhythms, sounds emulating fly noises and a very disturbing closing section that sounds like Magma going completely loose. Complainte ends this short but strong live compilation with fitting melancholy.

The sound is as clear and professional as on the studio albums. Given the diversity of the material this could serve as a great introduction to this amazing band.

A fascinating collection of live and studio tracks from Univers Zero, with the main focus being on the gap between Ceux du Dehors and Uzed. The most readily available version is the CD reissue which includes two live tracks tacked on at the end - Complainte and Triomphe des Mouches - and whilst ordinarily my inclination is to disregard bonus tracks, they work well in this context, not least because the EP is a grab-bag of unrelated pieces anyway. As far as the studio tracks go, we're dealing with the usual Univers Zero chamber rock approach here, applied with all the skill and flair fans will have come to expect from the studio albums.