ZOMBI

ZOMBI Digitalis - Limited Edition Tour EP (Relapse) cd ep 8.98 < = alt="add to cart" ="http://www.aquariusrecords.org/s/addtocart.gif" name=zombdigicd>
Just like the subtitle says -- it's a limited edition tour ep from everyone's favorite horror-movie obsessed synths n' drums instrumental post-rock duo from George Romero's hometown of Pittsburgh, Zombi! There's three tracks on this disc, the title track taken from their upcoming album Surface To Air (out May 2nd) plus two non-album tracks exclusive to this ep, performed soley by the non-drumming half of Zombi, Steve Moore, and his array of synths, drum machines, etc. "Digitalis" makes us look forward to the full-length, while we found the two other tracks to be quite worthwhile reasons to pick this up on their own, being the big Zombi fans we are. There's the droning and ominous but sort of angelic "Sibera" which sets churchy synthvox against a slow, steady, martial drum beat. It's like Zombi's beloved John Carpenter teamed up with funereal doom band Skepticism. The mood then changes to something much more bright and dare we say dancey with the 9+ minute "Sapphire", an electro-tinged epic that brings back memories of Miami Vice and yet gets Gobliny enough to fit in with Zombi's other material.
MPEG Stream: "Siberia"
MPEG Stream: "Sapphire"

ZOMBI Surface To Air (Relapse) cd 14.98 < = alt="add to cart" ="http://www.aquariusrecords.org/s/addtocart.gif" name=zombsurfcd>
For those of you who already know and like Zombi, the appearance of this, their second proper full-length album, is pretty much a no-brainer purchase-wise, we can assure you. You've already had a pleasant taster for it in the form of the Digitalis cdep released earlier this year. But if you've never checked out Zombi before, an introduction is in order (and this album will do nicely...but we'll also write something here). You might assume from their name, and presence on mostly metal label Relapse, that they're some sort of metal band, into zombie movies. Well the later part is true. They love their horror flicks -- they're from Pittsburgh, home of George Romero after all. But they're not really a metal band. More of a post-rock or math-rock outfit, Zombi is an all-instrumental duo on drums and synth (and bass), heavily influenced by Goblin, the legendary Italian prog band responsible for scoring all those Dario Argento films back in the '70s and '80s -- including the Italian cut of Romero's Dawn Of The Dead, aka Zombi. Other film soundtrackers from that era are also inspirations for Zombi the band as well, in particular John Carpenter. Then there's all the cosmic electronic space music of the '70s too, like that of Klaus Schulze. And Magma, the bass player has got to be into Magma. All that gets stirred into Zombi's witch's cauldron (oops, is that a mixed metaphor?) and the resulting potent concoction could serve as the soundtrack to the most schlocky, suspenseful, arty horror film of your imagination... It's an elixir that exudes subtle menace without, for the most part, being overtly "scary music", much like those Goblin soundtracks. Really it's kind of New Agey... New Agey with tension!! MASSIVE tension on Surface To Air's spookiest track, the album-closing 18 and a half minute "Night Rhythms", filled with ominous drones that eventually give way to powerful bass-heavy grooves... it's an epic tour-de-force of tension and release and very very cinematic. But all the tracks here pulsate mesmerizingly and moodily, with bright n' airy synth tones, dominating bass, and repetitive Circle-like hypno-rock rhythms. If that sounds good, check it out. And if you're already a fan, like we said, you'll be well pleased with Surface To Air!!
MPEG Stream: "Challenger"
MPEG Stream: "Surface To Air"
MPEG Stream: "Night Rhythms"

ZOMBI The Zombi Anthology (VCO) cd 14.98 < = alt="add to cart" ="http://www.aquariusrecords.org/s/addtocart.gif" name=zombanthcd>
Before the Pittsburg instrumental post-rock duo Zombi were into John Carpenter soundtracks, they were really REALLY into John Carpenter soundtracks! So this Zombi Anthology proves. Hopefully, you already know these guys from their debut cd on Relapse, Cosmos, that we reviewed (and recommended) as a highlight on one of our lists last year. We sold a ton of 'em, so when we made the reissue of John Carpenter's Escape From New York soundtrack our Record Of The Week a few weeks ago, we stressed that anyone into Zombi should own some Carpenter. Likewise, if you like John Carpenter soundtracks, you should definitely check out Zombi if you haven't already. On cue, here's both of Zombi's pre-Cosmos releases put together on one cd! First, there's the eight tracks of their 2002 self-titled disc, originally released by the band in a limited edition of 150 copies. It's mostly all electronic, with drum machine instead of live drums. Zombi admit the major Carpenter and Fabio Frizzi soundtrack influence on this one, and it's so obvious from the stark, quietly meancing droning synthwork and ticking drum machine percussion, oozing with horror film atmosFEAR. Their second release, the Twilight Sentinel EP (200 copies, released in 2003 for a tour with Daughters) developed their sound further towards actual loud "rock" music by adding live drums and bass guitar. On the four songs of that ep anthologized here, they continue to channel Carpenter and other scary soundtrack masters but get proggier and mathier and more rockin', coming closer to the space-metal, post-rock version of Goblin you hear on their Cosmos album. There is a hint of '80s cheesiness but that's the idea. Kitschy yet creepy. We love it. And beware of the hidden bonus track (a funky, fusiony synth sizzler *with vocals*, probably a cover of something we don't know).
MPEG Stream: "Sequence 1"
MPEG Stream: "Twilight Sentinel"
MPEG Stream: "Sequence 4"

WHAT A GREAT BAND!!!!!!

You may have already heard Steve Moore's work as one-half of the unbelievably awesome prog-rock instrumental duo Zombi, or through his phenomenal first solo-album called "The Henge" (Relapse/Static Caravan, 2007). Now Moore gives us "Demo 2003," a re-issue of his first solo recordings from the turn of the millenium. In contrast to Zombi's tightly structured progressive epics, "Demo 2003" is an exploratory, psychedelic meditation. Over the course of its 10 tracks, including the previously unreleased "Fever Dream", "Demo 2003" explores psychedelic paths through dark atmospheres and drifting harmonies. Smaller in scale than "The Henge," these tracks document Moore's initial fascination with analog synthesizers, focusing more on experimental timbres and droning ambience than on composition or form. This is why this long-player becomes the soundtrack of the mind. It is paranoid, monumental music that hypnotizes the listener with an unholy mix of gloomy, nightmarish, electronic ambiences and the neverending and almighty cosmic beauty.

Limited to 500 copies!

http://www.hlava-temple.com/audio/s_m_underwater_worlds.mp3
http://www.hlava-temple.com/audio/s_m_jefferson_institute.mp3

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