01

Scherzoo were formed at the end of 2009 in Lyon by drummer and also multi-instrumentalist Francois Thollot, who had already put up two solo albums during the decade.He was accompanied by sax player Guillaume Lagache, keyboardist Jeremy Van Quackebeke, guitarist Francois Mignot and bassist Anthony Beard.The majority of Scherzoo's debut ''01'' was written by Thollot and the album was finally released on Soleil Zeuhl in 2011.

Thollot was always influenced by the Zeuhl scene of France, as heard in his two solo outputs, and his efforts with Scherzoo marks no significant difference with his earlier work, maybe Scherzoo's music is reasonably more demanding, as this is more of a band effort.The album is filled with quirky Progressive/Jazz-Rock, characterized by furious interplays and multilple breaks, but it also contains all these Zeuhl-influenced romantic passages, where the gears are down yet the music remains always intricate.Six instrumental compositions, with the last clocking at near 20 minutes long, featuring massive sax interventions and solos, dramatic electric piano and a frenetic rhythm section.Guitars remain steadily in the background and the whole album is based on the unusual rhythm patterns of bass/drums along with the endless piano/sax interplays, sometimes Lagache performance recalls the personal approach of VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR'S David Jackson.

Anyone searching for melodic content, please skip this one.This is highly intricate and complicated Jazz-Rock/Zeuhl with an emphasis on interplays and solos, a really nice effort regarding the style.Warmly recommended.