NOCE CHIMIQUE

"Noce Chimique" is one of three CD reissues of Neffesh-Music by Musea and is nothing short of a fantastic album (if you can call it that). It seems to consist of side B of the "Ima" album from 1977, one track ("Orkana") from the 1976 "Delir'" album, 4 tracks recorded in 1981 which I can't find on any of the listed albums (I can't guarantee that the recordings are the same as on these albums, since the cover sheet does not say it explicitly). Finally there is a great live recording of "Sifra" from the unbelievably fantastic "Ghilgoul" album featuring improvisations from a guest pianist and violinist. According to the cover sleeve these two (absolutely amazing) musicians told Seffer minutes before going on stage that "we just can't play "Sifra" -- it's too difficult!". So Seffer told them "I'll play the piano part and you guys just improvise". The result is extremely intense, absolutely baffling and perhaps the highlight for me even though it's just two pianos and a violin.

How to describe this music? Well, different tracks have different line-ups here, so the following will not fit absolutely all of it, but basically Neffesh-Music consisted of a fusion style rhythm section, Seffer on piano and saxophones and a string quartette. If you are familiar with, say "Dense" from the Univers Zero album "Ceux de Dehors" you'll have an idea of how the strings are used: fast movements, close harmonies and very rhythmically complex. Add to that a fusion groove, often bafflingly precipitous with some amazing bass work from Dominique Bertram, and you have an idea.

The rhythm section work and the use of vocal chanting places several of the tracks in the Zeuhl genre (although this music defies categorisation, really). The sound changes throughout, as does the instrumentation (for example "Orkana" features some prominent synth work), but the constant is extreme intensity, technically breathtaking performances throughout, and compositions which will reveal new facets even on the hundreth listen. Of course it comes with the usual warning that it's not for the faint of heart, but then you probably shouldn't be checking out Zeuhl in the first place... If it's not yet impossible to get hold of (some of Seffer's works are, sadly), get a copy right now before it's too late!

4.5 stars. Hungarian born Yochk'o Seffer started to make a name for himself in the sixties playing the jazz circuit in Paris, France. The man is an incredibly talented sax player and keyboardist. Christian Vander approached him personally about playing for MAGMA, who at that point had just released their debut. Seffer bought in and played on MAGMA's second record "1001 Centagrade". After that recording Seffer and Francois Cahen, MAGMA's keyboardist decided to leave and form their own Zeuhl band called ZAO.

Eventually Seffer would start his solo career beginning with his "Neffesh Music" series which included his first three albums. "Delire" from 1976, "Ima" from 1977 and "Ghilgoul" from 1978. What makes this compilation album "Noce Chimique" so important are the five unreleased tracks from the "Ghilgoul" period. Back in 1995 a similar compilation to this was released under the "Neffesh-Music" title. When they re-issued this in 2011 they decided to change the final three tracks along with the cover art and album title.

So we get one track from "Delire" which is awesome because one of my all time favourite drummers Jean-My Truong is on that one, and he of course is from ZAO. That song is "Orkana" by the way. The closer "Fifra-Variations" is from "Ghilgoul" and is something else. This is live, and the story goes that the Hungarian pianist and Hungarian violinist both told Seffer before playing this one that it was too difficult for them. And these two musicians are incredible by the way. So Seffer tells them both just to improvise while he plays the main piano parts. So a trio of two pianos and violin and you should hear this! It's just surprising the passion and power on display.

Dominique Bertram is the main bass player on this recording and from ZAO, along with the Margand String Quartet who also played with ZAO, and they are on three tracks. Finally we also get the great Maurica Platon adding her incredible vocals to that opener and some wordless stuff too elsewhere. This compilation is the perfect companion to that "Ghilgoul" record. In fact, if you include these two records along with a few of the early ZAO albums, you will have some of the best music ever recorded in my opinion.

That was my initial takeaway as I re-visited this all last week was that this music really is on another level compared to a lot of what I'm into. Seffer has a unique "sound" that's for sure when playing the sax. Ornette Coleman was one of his favourites and an inspiration to him for sure. This compilation really is a must in my opinion, and will be paired in my collection with "Ghilgoul" the prefect match.