SCHNÖRGL ATTAHK

With a name like CAMEMBERT and the fact that they are from France you know GONG has to be an influence. I would say Frank Zappa comes across as even more of an influence when I listen to this. Lots of vibes and xylophone while the guitar brings Frank to mind at times. I mean some of these passages really come across as a homage to Frank's music. MAGMA is also an influence as we get a few passages that are clearly Zeuhl inspired. Besides the usual instruments and the ones I've mentioned already we get harp, trumpet, didgeridoo, tuba, bass trombone, tenor trombone and congas.

They are on the Altrock label and some Italians from that label help out as we get Zago from YUGEN adding guitar on one track along with two guys from SKE helping out. This was three years in the making and the reason I've been spinning this all week is because they have just recently released a brand new album called "Negative Toe" which is getting some rave reviews already. Man what a wacky science fiction concept this is even though this is an instrumental album. I can see how GONG inspired such a story(haha). A pretty cool story at that and other reviewers have touched on the concept.

"Infinicheese" is haunting and dark and headphones are a must in this experimental soundscape. Love this stuff as sounds start to pulse loudly as different sounds come and go. It blends into "Clacos Zero" where the same sound continues. Horns blast in a powerful way to end it.

It's almost funny the way it goes from this serious soundscape to all these vibes, xylophones and percussions with horns taking over on "Untung Untungan 2.0". Very Zappa like even the horns. Powerful and punchy sounds befoe it settles with bass before 2 minutes and builds. So good! Great sound 3 1/2 minutes in as it turns somewhat jazzy with electric piano, a beat and bass. Soon the horns come in blasting over top. A calm just before 6 minutes with picked guitar and harp as the bass and drums join in. It's building. Love those horns just before 7 minutes. A change to a strong Zappa vibe just before 9 minutes. It turns powerful just as it ends.

"Clacos 1: Notre Mere A Tous" features sounds that echo and this fits in well with those two short intro tracks as we get lots of atmosphere. Some picked guitar and horns late in this interesting soundscape. "El Ruotuav Ed Sram" is mellow with guitar and cymbals before we get a full sound rather quickly with horns, vibes and more. This really sounds like Zappa around 4 1/2 minutes. A calm before 6 minutes. It's building after 7 minutes. I'm so impressed with all of this. "Clacos 2: Die Experimente Von Dr. Frankenschnrgl" has these dramatic sounds and mad laughter like out of a movie, lots of horns too.

"Le Meurtrior Volant" starts off dramatically with a nod to Zeuhl. Dark with powerful outbursts and electric piano. Nice. The Zappa vibe takes over before 1 1/2 minutes but then it settles into a haunting mood with sounds coming and going. There's that Zappa sound again as contrasts continue. A lazy guitar solo arrives before 4 minutes surprisingly. It ends around 5 minutes. I like when it settles right down with sparse sounds as it drifts along with harp, drums and more. Horns arrive after 7 1/2 minutes blasting then an almost silent calm takes over around 8 minutes. More harp too then it kicks back in with a heavy rhythm. Nice.

Next is the closing four piece suite called "La Danse Du Chameau" and the first part is called "Batifolade". Uptempo guitar melodies to start but they are blown away by this Zeuhl army marching into battle. Horns just before a minute as the march continues. It will end at 1 1/2 minutes as the tempo picks up with horns over top. Check out the guitar before 3 minutes that will continue to the end as it goes on and on.

"Soif!" has these dramatic outbursts that come and go. Horns start to blast as discordant piano joins in this avant soundscape. "La Tempete De Sable" opens with punchy sounds as it builds. I like that guitar. Horns eventually join in as well as those punchy sounds continue. It's more powerful around 2 1/2 minutes and the guitar sounds even better. The song starts to wind down before 3 1/2 minutes. Nice ending.

"Reveries Lubriques Sous Une Dune" has sparse guitar, a bass line and harp before that Zeuhl army arrives. It all stops late but for the bass line and guitar. Soon it's powerful to end it. "The Final Run" has guitar just like the previous section with powerful and dark atmospheres. Outbursts of power follow with percussion. Soon it picks up with a great sounding rhythm. Love the drums, percussion and bass with harp over top. It settles right down with percussion before 2 1/2 minutes. Soon horns and more join in. It turns more upbeat around 3 minutes. Some brief Zeuhl vocals before 4 1/2 minutes signals a change as it calms right down with a horn and a light beat to end it.

A must for those into adventerous music, I can only imagine how good the new one must be. Hopefully I will be able to let you know soon.