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 1. La Faulx 2. Jack the Ripper 3. Vous le Saurez en Temps Voulu Daniel Denis - drums & percussion Roger Trigaux - guitars, keyboards (organ & piano) Guy Segers - bass, vocals (1) Patrick Hanappier - violins & cellos Michel Berckmans - oboe & basson Prologue. Belgian Univers Zero is the most classics-oriented band from RIO (Rock In Opposition), though it was formed by jazz-musicians. About RIO, as well as the full history of Univers Zero and their counterparts, perhaps you'll read later about them, if I find a publishing house for my new book on more than 1000 best prog-bands from all over the world. The album. I have heard all albums of Univers Zero (except their new of 1998), but for the review I purposely select "Heresie", because it is stylistically outstanding even for them, maybe their best, though any of different experienced listeners can rate any of the band's albums as a winner. La Faulx was "Side one" on the 1979's LP, it's their longest epic composition ever (26 min.), the only one with lyrics. I hear with difficulty a mix of Latin, French and English, but probably I'm mistaken, and there is only Latin here. Guy Segers's voice is really "sepulchral", transformed later into a brutal roar. I understand now where the real roots of Doom/Death vocal style are, remembering that the musical structures were taken from early Black Sabbath)... No doubt, Thomas Gabriel and Chuck Schuldiner are rightly dethroned today as the pioneers of Death voice (both from extreme metal bands Celtic Frost and Death). Returning to the music of La Faulx I want to say that this is one of the doomiest and sinister compositions of all times, including medieval music! And there's no here the usual dominating warr-guitar at all. The sound of early Univers Zero is very complex, progressive, and also entangled, based on chamber instruments arrangements (with an addition of guitars and percussives), unlike their later works. La Faulx is made by a special scheme. A unique dark gothic atmosphere full of mystical phobies overwhelms all around, even hopelessness in the face of the everlasting flight of life. "Not of the death I'm afraid, but of immortality". Jack the Ripper (13 min.). In accordance with the title, this composition a bit more sinister than La Faulx. Again very slow, but at the same time intricate, full of surprising twists and unusual electric guitar themes, this one shows Daniel Denis and Roger Trigaux, the co-writers here, at their best, while the majority of UZ's pieces was written only by Denis. After "Heresie" Trigaux left UZ and formed his own band Present, motivating this by a desire for a tighter control over compositions. However, the band's other old members, including Denis, have appeared on almost all these albums. Vous le Saurez en Temps Voulu (again 13 min.) paints a picture of an old little isolated chapel in the night, accompanied by the dried trees, and a cold moon illuminates sometimes this God-forsaken place from above a cloudy sky... Very symphonic, yet with a poignant nightmare feelings, this doomiest philosophy resembles the first track. The door is closed, and there's no way out of here...
Summary. Univers Zero is one of the most innovative prog bands in the history of rock. "Heresie",
their second album, is outstanding in regard to the whole genre, as well as within the framework of UZ.
Unlike the band's next production with a more modern sound and their debut with a strong
Stravinsky / avant-classics feel, this one is original in its own way of ghastly psychedely alongside
intricate arrangements of each instrument combined with the style of gothic music and
a more prominent role for chamber instruments. A rare masterpiece of prog, but I wouldn't recommend
to listen to it with the lights off. Also, don't play it loud: this is a strenuous type of music
for very specific listening occasions. I hope I have roused the curiosity of experienced
prog-heads. The album was released by US' "Cuneiform" label (the headquarters of RIO) in 1991
and distributed over Europe through British "ReR". True contemporary Classics.
VM. 10.12.1998 |
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