ART ZOYD 3 [AKA: SYMPHONIE POUR LE JOUR OÙ BRÛLERONT LES CITÉS]

ART ZOYD are closely linked to UNIVERS ZERO, in fact Daniel Denis has played percussion on some of their recordings. It should be noted that ART ZOYD do not have a drummer, and when they do use percussion it is very sparingly. The music on this their debut I would describe as Chamber rock reminding me a lot of UNIVERS ZERO at times. This is often dark and intense but above all amazingly played.

"Brigades Speciales" opens with theatrical male vocal melodies that remind me of Basquiz while the music sounds like MAGMA. Trumpet and deep bass follows. It settles down to an eerie calm as violins and horns play softly. It kicks back in after 3 minutes with trumpet blast and great band interplay. This contrast continues. It becomes quite powerful 7 minutes in and check out the bass a minute later ! Violin and another powerful soundscape arrives 9 1/2 minutes in that has to be heard to be believed. Intense ! Some yelling and chaos 12 1/2 minutes in. What an opener ! "Masques" opens with what sounds like congas. Violin comes in mournfully followed by dissonant horns then deep bass lines as violin returns. It gets very intense 5 minutes in. These guys are incredible ! Those Zeuhl-like vocals make an appearance before 7 minutes. Love the Jazz flavour 8 minutes in before the song kicks back into gear.

"Simulacres" opens with horns before it becomes heavy rather quickly. Deep bass as outbursts of sounds come and go. More great bass 4 minutes in before another outburst. The suspense starts to build until your on the edge of your seat 6 minutes in. Awesome ! "Les Fourmis" features lots of bass, horns and violin. Crazy vocals after 1 1/2 minutes in the Rio tradition. It gets kind of silly instrumentally 3 minutes in. Check out the guitar before 5 minutes ! Where did that come from ? "Scenes De Carnaval" opens with horn blast before violin arrives a minute in. A calm after 2 minutes but dissonant horns and vocals change that. More vocals after 4 1/2 minutes with a calm a minute later. The bass is tremendous throughout.It becomes eerie 5 minutes in until smooth sax arrives 7 1/2 minutes in. It ends with an instrumental and vocal outburst.

A must have for Rio and UNIVERS ZERO fans out there. These guys are as good as advertised, if not better.