Uppsala - a great opportunity to buy

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For sale at Wayside:

UPPSALA - Uppsala 
SKU 01/MUSEA 4370 SPECIAL
Nice to see this reissue of the only album by this early 80's fusion trio of electric & acoustic guitar/vocals (Philippe Cauvin), bass & drums. This is not typical fusion, but has a genuinely original & idiosyncratic sound unlike anything else I can think of. While they do know how to burn, quite a lot of this is at mid or even slow tempos, further distancing it from most fusion music. This includes the album + 3 live tracks from a 1995 reunion. This was roundly ignored upon its original release in 2001; now at a 40% discount off of its regular price, don't make the same mistake now! 

Label Musea

Your Price
$10.00

PA bio:

Uppsala stands as yet another Zeuhl contingency hailing from France. The band was formed in 1969 by Philippe Cauvin (guitar), Didier Lamarque (drums, percussion) and Dany Marcombe (bass guitar), under the name Absinthe. By the second half of the Seventies the band was to take a new name in the namesake of the Swedish city Uppsala (Home of guitarists Coste Apetrea (of Samla Mammas Manna) and Kukka Tolonen, whom Uppsala met while vacationing in 1978). Amazingly for a band that has been touring over the past 30 years, they only boast one album under their belts. Tragically in 1979, Cauvin befell a car crash where he lost both his legs; this no doubt set the band back substantially in their musical plights. Over the passing year it has been rumoured the band is concentrating on devising a second album; but we will have to be patient and see what time will bring us. 

Their Self Titled album was released in 1983; taking a very Art rock approach to the Zeuhl ideals. While the rhythm section besets the framework for the album (the famous ‘throbbing bass’), it finds itself revolving around the masterful hand of Philippe Cauvin. We are to be graced with complex interplay between both electric and acoustic guitar. At other times taking full advantage of utilising dubbing effects to produce a likely guitar synth sound. Rather than perusing lyrical themes the album is littered with rough vocalised Zeuhl chants to the high-pitched feminine ranges; all performed by Cauvin. The album is highly diverse encompassing a wide variety of tones and moods, while keeping the audience on their toes with the vast array of sound effects noises. 

Uppsala is recommend to those who like their music with the guitar at the forefront. At treat for fans of Djam Karet and King Crimson (80’s – 90’s) with and extra favour of Zeuhl. 

Review:

UPPSALA — Uppsala
Review by sinkadotentree (john davie) 
PROG REVIEWER 
 This record took longer than most do for me to really get into.I think part of the reason for that is the fact that this is not like any of the Zeuhl i've heard so far.This is lighter, with mostly slower to mid-paced songs.A lot of acoustic guitar as well,and the electric guitar is very well done i might add.Also this band is a trio instead of the usual "many" members that make up a lot of Zeuhl bands.UPPSALA played over 40 concerts before finally recording their first(and so far only) album in 1983.They had a terrible car accident in Belgium in 1979 in which the bass player lost the use of both his legs, and the drummer was seriously injured.Fortunately the main man Philippe Cauvin the guitarist/vocalist was unscathed.Dany Marcombe the bass player bravely returned, even though he would play bass in a wheelchair. My cd has three bonus live tracks on it that were all recorded in 1995 when they reunited to open for a band called FUSION, that consisted of Christian Vander,Janik Top,Didier Lockwood and Benoit Widermann.Nice. "Algarade" has an island feel to it at times.Vocal melodies,bass,drums and guitar lead the way until a minute in when the song calms down.Vocals are back before 3 minutes,and the guitar is great. "Coste And Jukka" is named after two Swedish guitarists they met while vacationing.Actually they named the band after the Swedish town(Uppsala) that these two guitarists are from.It opens with the band having some fun as they are carrying on.There are some spoken words that come and go while we get some singing a minute in that turns into dual vocals.Some higher pitched vocals later.This is a very good tune. "Les Nouvelles" has a RUSH vibe to the guitar sounds.This song has such a relaxing melody with vocals after 5 minutes. "Boucle Aux Oiseaux D'en Face" is another highlight with the acoustic guitar,vocal melodies,bass and drums. "Coup De Folie" has a good beat along with some steller vocals.This reminds me a little of THE TALKING HEADS.Some scorching guitar 2 minutes in. "Etude N 1" has some great guitar and bass work.The vocals are getting close to theatrical. "Uppsala" is the longest track.It is mid-paced,as they just jam for over 12 minutes.The three live bonus songs also feature a guest trumpet and synth player named Freddy Buzon. "Antrada" has some serious atmosphere in the beginning before giving way to a nice acoustic guitar melody that is RUSH-like.Trumpet comes in after 4 minutes as the song becomes jazzy until bass and guitar take over followed by the drums 7 1/2 minutes in. "Chant De Nuit" has some strange vocals with not much in the way of a melody. "Entrechocs" has an impressive drum solo for 2 1/2 minutes that is followed by the crowd cheering.The guitar and bass then share the spotlight, with the guitarist playing a few bars from the happy birthday song. This has grown into a 4 star record for me, but just barely.I really think all Zeuhl fans should own this bands take on Zeuhl music, as it is both refreshing and very well played.Well done! 
Posted Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 01:13 EST | Permanent link