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

Just like partners in crime Univers Zero, Art Zoyd's debut is still very closely tied to the modern classical music of the beginning of the 20st century. With an ensemble consisting of mainly acoustic instruments, Art Zoyd present a consistent take on the harsh dissonance and rhythmical emphasis of early Stravinsky works.

The chamber rock of this Symphonie is less dark then UZ and at times it's even playful. Alain Eckert adds some sparse and wordless vocal eccentricities, or should I say roars, sighs and cries. He reminds me of Magma's Blasquiz. The bass guitar adds a rhythmical pulse that also reminds of Magma. No drums are present though. The pieces are excellently written and performed with brilliance, perfectly capturing the live energy during the sessions.

This album contains chamber rock that is dazzling, melodious and very spontaneous. I'd recommend it very much as a first exploration in the RIO field. For people familiar with this album I can very much recommend the debut of the current Belgian band Aranis. 4.5 stars