One Shot

Biography

Expose

Emmanuel BORGHI (keyboardss), Philippe BUSSONNET (bass) and James MacGAW (guitars) are members of the current MAGMA lineup. Here they are joined by Daniel JEAND'HEUR (drums) on a romp through jazz-rock improv-land. The playing is very tight, this is one of fine tuned machine that can drive on the hard-fusion road just as easily as they do on the more cerebral jazz path, sometimes switching between the two extremes in a matter of seconds, very naturally and effortlessly. Despite the pedigrees of BORGHI and BUSSONNET, do not expect MAGMA or Zeuhl, there is little evidence of it here. The inclination here seems more toward a 70's American-styled fusion rather than the more typicallly more delicate French variety, some reference points being ZAPPA, Billy COBHAM, Miles DAVIS, and the Jeff BECK group. BORGHI's preferred keyboard is the mighty Fender Rhodes, which along with JEAND'HEUR's adept drumming establishes the general flavor on most of the tracks ; MacGAW's guitar attack is fast, assertive and incisive, being primarily a soloist, while BUSSONNET ties it all together. Five of the seven tracks here break the nine minutes mark, giving ample room to stretch out and make their case. Energetic fusion of the highest order.

Peter THELEN - Exposé 19 (May 2000)

One Shot : "Vendredi 13" (Soleil 06, 2001, CD)

Anyone who has seen Magma play recently has seen three of the four members of One Shot. The leader of the band is Emmanual Borghi on keyboards, and his compatriots are James MacGaw on guitar and Philippe Bussonnet on bass. Drummer Daniel Jeand'heur has some very large shoes to fill, and he wisely plays in a lighter, jazzier style that avoids the inevitable comparisons to the intensity of Vander.

This five track CD was recorded live in France on April 13 (hence the title) and it features a band in the process of developing their own identity. Clearly there are Zeuhl aspects to the music, especially in the throbbing bass lines and repeating keyboard patterns (all of the tunes are written by Borghi and Bussonnet by the way). The tracks have a somewhat loose, organic, and improvised sound about them and there are many extended solos. MacGaw's guitar work is quite inspired and it provides some real highlights when the tracks build to a climax. The electric piano is used more in a supporting role than as a solo vehicle, but it functions effectively in setting the atmosphere.

Overall this is a talented group of players but they are still finding their own compositional voice.

David Ashcraft (Expose - Issue 23 - December 2001)

One Shot : "Vendredi 13" (Soleil 06, 2001, CD)

Get in line, put down your money and get yer Zeuhl fix right here. Satisfaction guaranteed. One Shot, featuring Emmanuel Boghi, keyboards, James Mac Graw, guitar, and Philippe Bussonnet, bass, all members of the 90s Magma line-up, plus drummer Daniel Jeand'heur, churn out instrumental Magmoidisms that will excite and give great satisfaction to all those who love the legendary French group which spawned Zeuhl music.

The music derives from Magma's Udu Wüdü period with all of the requisite sounds, style, gestures and more. The opening track features the band riffing on motifs which are inspired by "Zombies". Borghi favors the Fender Rhodes electric piano with fat, juicy and weird harmonies, nervous figuration and erratic rhythms. The heavy vibrato and upper register synthesizer of "Blue Bug" is reminiscent of the Moog line at scattered throughout "Troller Tanz". Bussonnet has captured the sound and spirit of Jannick Top and Bernard Paganotti. His work is spotlighted throughout in "No." While it does not focus on virtuoso technique, Bussonnet showcases are more trebly and brittle sound than that of either Top or Paganotti, though when he rips into his instruments, he elicits that famous and devastating buzzing sound that is the calling card of Magmoid bassists. "In a Wild Way" features a tasty bass part that features little strummed chords, as if played on rhythm guitar, and a wah-wah pedal, breaking a bit from tradition. Also, the tune breaks into a straight ahead jazz fusion passage and even moves into a funk groove, but one with that wonderfully weird Zeuhl component.

Additionally, while Magma only occasionally included guitarists, Mac Graw's guitar is in keeping the style and specter of those few guitarists; think of the guitar workby Gabriel Federow on Magma's live albums. He is a remarkable virtuoso and often playing front and center. While Jeand'heur does not quite imitate Vander's sound and style, his playing fits in perfectly, full of fire and explosive power. The kicker is that this is a live recording and One Shot proves to be one tight and overpowering group. Stunning!

Dean Suzuki (Expose - Issue 23 - December 2001)

One Shot : Vendredi 13 (Soleil 06, 2001, CD)

While this current Magma line-up offshoot began their side career with a fusion album that barely hinted at their Zeuhl progenitors, the quartet of Emmanuel Borghi, James MacGaw, Philippe Bussonnet and Daniel Jeand'heur have come full circle here on their follow up, entitled Friday 13.

This is definitive Zeuhl music - the growling bass, angular melodies and sprinklings of diminished and augmented electric piano chords. While you could name a lot of comparisons to this album such as Potemkine, and of course, instrumental Magma, the album this piece reminds me of the most is the first album by the similarly inclined Eider Stellaire, although with less compositional restriction.

Vendredi 13 was recorded live on that date in April 2001 and features the tremendous playing you would expect from musicians who accompany Vander. The music grooves darkly, with a lot of space for guitar and e-piano solos, and it sounds nicely free, with 4 out of the 6 pieces timing at over ten minutes. The particular stand out here is MacGaw's guitar playing, and he is given the room to improvise some outstanding solos.

All in all, an excellent set of Zeuhlish jazz rock and a no brainer for the fan.

Mike McLatchey (Expose - Issue 23 - December 2001)

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