1982, 83 and 85: Art Zoyd's and Asia's albums

Review by Syzygy
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Zeuhl/RIO Specialist

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Posted Monday, July 11, 2005

In the eighties times and music have changed. To survive, many prog bands and musicians had to listen to record label executives to continue working. So, Asia was one of the new bands, a supergroup, which had to make compromises to record albums. One of these compromises was to record an album with a mixture of pop and prog rock. So, this first album was recorded with both markets in mind: the long time prog fans and the pop fans (a new market to conquest). And the results of this album are very good. This album still has some progressive arrangements. It seems that Steve Howe was really "inspired" in this album. His guitar work is superb. Carl Palmer was playing very good too. John Wetton had a great voice and played his bass good. Geoff Downes brought his pop influence from The Buggles to this album, and his keyboards shine too. I liked this album very much when it was released, and now that I have the CD I still like it very much. In 1982 I was 17 years old, I was in High School and I played drums in an amateur band, and I also bought an Asia t-shirt with the cover of this album printed in it and I went to play some gigs with this t-shirt. I was a teenager then, and I smile to those years. Asia was part of those years and it brings me good memories.As this album is not entirely progressive, it is not essential for extreme progressive fans, but it is a good choice for people who understand neessary changes in music styles to keep music alive.

Les Espaces Inquiets

Review by zravkapt

Art Zoyd was/is one of the better groups in Avant-Prog. One of the greatest things to come out of France. They are similar in sound to Univers Zero but are generally more eclectic and weird. They formed in 1968 and originally were influenced by the Mothers Of Invention and Captain Beefheart. The first album was self-released in 1976. This is Zoyd's fifth album(not including the 1980 remake of the debut).

Leave it to Art Zoyd to start one of their albums with the most avant song on it. The first "Legendes" song, subtitled "La Foret Qui Avance", is a strange and mysterious piece. It's mostly strange noises and creepy voices whispering. The only real music here is the strings which come and go. One of the reasons I like this album so much, despite the odd beginning, is that it has two of my favourite AZ songs here: "Ceremonie" and "Migrations". Those two songs are really great prog music for 1983; they make Neo-Prog sound like Duran Duran in comparison. Of course with Duran Duran we're talking about a completely different "Rio".

"Ceremonie"(which you can listen to on PA) begins with dramatic organ before going into the main part of the song. Simple but effective bass playing with jangly acoustic guitar and some percussion. Then there is some great trumpet before some almost metal-like screeching from electric guitar. The end of the song is very avant though, with some weird Magma-esque vocals. "Migrations" is a song that every progger should hear at least once in their life. This song has some great bass from Thierry Zaboitzeff(why isn't he on PA yet?).

About 4 minutes in there is a great section with bass and a repeated piano part. Eventually we get another piano playing over top with viola, then some organ before it goes back again. This leads to a dissonant section with trumpet and more organ. Around 7 1/2 minutes we get a drum machine pattern with some very nice piano playing. Overdubbed trumpets appear. Later we get a very bizarre sound that goes back and forth in the left and right channels. I can only describe it as a cross between hearing a train go by and a bowling ball knocking over pins.

Of the three "Images" songs, "Cortege Des Officiels" is the most interesting. The last song and second "Legendes" piece, "La Bruit Du Fer", has some programmed drumming which almost sounds like the real thing. The bass part is unique sounding; this reminds me of a song that Einsturzende Neubauten did in the 90s. Art Zoyd are one of the only "rock" groups without a drummer. Beginning on this album they use drum machines and synths. Previously they were an almost acoustic group with electric bass and occasionally electric guitar and electric piano. After this album they dove headfirst into synths and programming, but not quite abandoning the violins and trumpet just yet.

Art Zoyd is a group that should be more known. It doesn't help that their music is expensive. Les Espaces Inquits is not their most consistent album but has some of the best music they did. For 1983 this is very heady and adventurous stuff. 4 stars.

ALPHA

Review by greenback
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Neo-Prog Specialist

This record is slightly sentimental, perfect for the young intellectual teenagers we were, dreaming of some comprehensive girls and some good jobs to do as a living. When I listen again to this nowadays, I always think about the 80's, recalling how enthusiastic we were about our future! Actually when you listen to the melodic and modern epic keyboards, to the catchy and addictive lead & backing vocals, to the melodic electric guitars and the modest drums, you just say to yourself: "it was a privilege for us to have such a great record to wholeheartedly listen". This record was like a model, it was truly appreciated since we were beginning to meet girls. It was not rare to notice many garage bands try to play their songs. In order of comparison, let's mention the prog band Pallas sounds a bit like them. All the instruments on Alpha form a solid ensemble, and you just listen to the music as a whole. One may qualify this album as being accessible, and the songs are not extremely progressive. The music is rather simple, barely progressive, and definitely not complex.

Rating: 4.5 stars

4.5 stars.This was released as a double album back in 1985,and was the music for Roland Petit's ballet called "The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell".It's hard to believe this was used as music for a ballet,although Petit was known for his theatrical productions.He apparently saw ART ZOYD on television and so contacted them about doing this.I must say i feel very fortunate to have this cd as it is the last of their chamber music period before they went heavily into electronics.This is the only one of their early period that is not out of print yet,and it's one of their best.I got my copy at "Wayside Music".What's it sound like ? Well my favourite place to listen to music is in my truck on my hour drive to and from work. I listen to the longer cds like this on my way home because i can take my time and go the long way.I've been listening to this all week at work and one customer gave me a hard time about it,saying i should have Christmas music on instead of this depressing stuff,i decided to let him live.So tonight on the way home in the dark i had a careful listen to this recording.The closest reference in my opinion is UNIVERS ZERO,in that this is very intense and dark.This is more minimilstic and experimental but every bit as good,in fact i like it better than UNIVERS ZERO's early works. "Sortie 134(Part 1)" opens with a lot of tension as dual piano melodies and trumpet lead the way before it calms down and we can hear children laughing.Some violin and piano before a full sound comes back 3 minutes in that comes and goes.A change before 6 minutes as we get lots of percussion and piano.Vocal melodies before 8 minutes.This is intense!Great track ! It ends with children laughing again as it blends into "Cryogenese(Reve Artificiel)".The sound of a metronome ticking can be heard as trumpet blasts and piano comes in.A change 3 minutes in as the metronome stops and the trumpet and piano continue.Again this is so intense.Another change 5 minutes in as metronome returns with piano.I'm reminded of UNIVERS ZERO 6 1/2 minutes in.Trumpet a minute later.Actually an outbreak of trumpet 9 1/2 minutes in goes on for a minute.It becomes so intense and unrelenting.Another change 14 1/2 minutes in as some strange sounds replace the trumpet.Sounds like synths 16 1/2 minutes in as the piano stops.What a ride that was. "Io 1" features sax melodies that are at time dissonant. "Io 2" is eerie and haunting.A cool rhythm with sax comes in that stops and starts.I like this one. "Io 3" opens with almost a pulsating sound as violin comes in.It stops and then continues but this time piano is added.It stops again and restarts.This part is kind of spooky.Vocal melodies join 4 minutes in. "Mouvance 2" incorporates these wonderful piano melodies.A full sound before 3 minutes. "Mouvance 1" features more piano but it's more aggressive.Trumpet comes in tastefully as we again have two pianos being played.The intensity is removed as the song settles down.Violin comes in as piano quietly plays on. "Cryogenese(Les Portes Du Futur)" opens with outbursts of piano.Percussion comes and goes.Organ and trumpet 1 1/2 minutes in.The outbreaks come back.Violin 3 1/2 minutes in.Vocal sounds.Metronome comes in.Organ 7 minutes in.The rest of the song is fantastic ! One of the best part of the album.It has more of a melody with trumpet blasts,piano and organ. "Sortie 134(Part 2)" has a good beat, and the children laughing are back.Vocal melodies and speaking as well.Great ending to this album. When i finished listening to this i thought to myself "Was that just a bad dream i had ?" ART ZOYD have just been put near the top of my favourite Rio-prog band list.Get this record !!

Review by Gooner
PROG REVIEWER

I get a kick out of some reviewers saying ASIA went *too commercial* on their excellent _Astra_ album in 1985. This is an underrated gem with some really great hard rock songs and fine ballads. Too commercial? ASIA were commercial...isn't that a no brainer? But, what we have here is a solid album - even without the great Steve Howe playing guitar. This is mostly a trio album by Wetton, Downes & Palmer with Mandy Meyer(of Krokus) contributing his guitar colourings and rhythms. Palmer plays it solid behind the kit, nothing too flashy but drives the opener _Go_. _Voice Of America_ has some excellent vocals, some of the best ASIA harmonies put on tape. If you enjoy John Wetton's voice, this is some his best singing, especially the closer _After The War_. 1985 was a pretty depressing year for music, really. I mean, Twisted Sister were the hit and Poison were just about to let loose in destroying the ozone layer and the airwaves with their acid washed jeans and hairspray ditties. Let's keep things in perspective. If this were released today with the compressed hot mic world of Britneys and Beyonces, this would stick out like a sore thumb on the airwaves. Critics would rave at its harmonies and driving hard rock and it might even make the top 10. ASIA's _Astra_ was ahead of its time and pretty much an album on an island in 1985, right up there was Rush's Power Windows and would appeal the fans of neo prog bands like PALLAS, PENDRAGON and CASTANARC. ASIA's _Astra_ rocks as hard(maybe harder) as the debut, but doesn't get quite as sappy as _Alpha_. It sounds almost as though it were their follow-up to the debut. I surmise this album didn't get the attention it deserved because there was no tour to support it. That's too bad because they could've done a smash up job with a one-two punch on a live bill with Saga, Rush or Marillion. Ignore the one star ratings here. ASIA's _Astra_ should at least garner 2 stars at its worst, and 3.5 to 4 stars at its best making it a *good* album. Worth another try if you missed it the first time around. _Astra_would also appeal to fans of the Joe Lynn Turner-era of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow and Midge Ure-era Ultravox. Can you call ASIA's _Astra_ prog.rock? Not likely. But it's a great fusion of hard rock and New Wave. That in itself make this release *progressive* and a fine addition to any listener's collection with an open mind and appreciation for solid songcraft