Record Reviews
13 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | RAIZ DE PEDRA ~ AO VIVO
GENS 008 ~ BRAZIL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1987 Released: 1999
2nd album, recorded live, by one of the most interesting South American groups - the instrumental quintet Raiz De PedraFind albums by this artist from Brazil. Although often referred to as a jazz group, they play a completely original type of music, with a lot of jazzy influences but very far from conventional jazz. In fact they are much closer to RIO groups, like Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist, than to any mainstream jazz. Fronted by the excellent reeds and flute player Márcio TubinoFind albums by this artist, they play their “far out” music with ease and elegance. The compositions are very unconventional, with offbeat rhythms and tempos. The guitar and keyboards (when not soloing) often support the saxophone by creating layers of electronic sounds and the rhythm section (strengthened by a guest percussionist) provides a polyrhythmic drive. In short this is one of those uncanny albums that make your ears stand up when you hear it for the first time and tempt you to return to it time after time to really get it all. Warmly recommended.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ CRAWLING WIND
CUNEIFORM 155 (Barcode: 045775015521) ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1979 - 1884 Released: 2001
7th album by Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist, this one is a reissue of a rare Japanese EP from 1983, now remastered and expanded to a full album with addition of some rare and never previously available material. A feast to Univers Zero fans of course and an important `missing link` in the documentation of their recorded works.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ HEATWAVE
CUNEIFORM 009 (Barcode: 045775000923) ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1986 Released: 1987
5th album by Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist and the last before their breakup in 1987. This is a culmination of the 15 years long history of creating some of the most fascinating music on this planet. All the elements are here and this is another masterpiece by all means. Happily for the music lovers, they were re-united again later.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ HERESIE
CUNEIFORM 029 ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
2nd album from 1979. One of the `darkest` recordings ever made and a great example of the fascinating modern chamber music incorporating rock elements. Univers Zero are often described as a combination of the best elements of Magma and King Crimson, which puts them in a very special league. Heavily influenced by 20th century neo-classical and modernist music.
| | Updated: 18/03/2023Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ IMPLOSION
CUNEIFORM 190 (Barcode: 045775019024) ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2003 Released: 2004
9th album by the superb Belgian ensemble Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist, led by Daniel DenisFind albums by this artist. Since all the superlatives of this world have already been said about them, I will not add anything more except a recommendation to get this (and if you already have their previous albums you shurely will do so). This is probably some of the most important contemporary music ever made and beyond description.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ LIVE
CUNEIFORM 220 (Barcode: 045775022024) ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006
10th album and the first ever Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist live recording. The complexity of UZ music seems like an insurmountable challenge when recording their music live, but the stable line-up and numerous performances made even this task viable. This beautiful recording catches the perhaps most important contemporary music group at their full glory. The music, which is mostly new arrangements of their previously recorded studio material, emphasizes both the immense talents behind the compositions and the incredibly high standard of musicianship. It is now almost 30 years since UZ appeared on the European musical scene and in all these years they found almost no competition as far and groundbreaking music creation is concerned. Always on the forefront of the Avant-Garde Rock and Contemporary Music scene, UZ remains a beacon of extraordinary strength, pointing towards the musical Mount Olympus. I am not even going to try to recommend this album to anybody – it is so far beyond recommendations.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ RELAPS – ARCHIVES 1984-1986
CUNEIFORM 280 (Barcode: 045775028026) ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1984 - 1986 Released: 2009
11th release by the extraordinary Belgian ensemble Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist, surely one of the most innovative, revolutionary and prophetic music makers in contemporary music history, which presents for the first time archival material of previously unreleased live recordings. These recordings capture the last two lineups of the ensemble in the mid-1980s, before the band´s long sabbatical: the quintet which recorded "UzedFind albums with this title" in 1984 and the septet which recorded "HeatwaveFind albums with this title" in 1986. The bands unique ability to combine contemporary classical influences with Jazz, Rock and Improvised Music is a momentous testimony of music´s cross-genre validity and conceptual pollination. The ensemble´s leader and principal composer drummer Daniel DenisFind albums by this artist is blessed not only with exceptional talents as a musician, but also with the persistence and feeling of apostolic urge to "spread the gospel" against all odds. Although the music of Univers Zero is primarily known only to a tiny group of music connoisseurs around the world, its true significance is colossal and it will undoubtedly stay in the Pantheon of everlasting musical achievement. A true classic!
| | Updated: 29/01/2019Posted: | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ RHYTHMIX
CUNEIFORM 165 ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
8th album by this sensational band delivers the impossible - yet another jewel after a long series of superb previous releases. An expanded version of the group including 10 musicians create a musical landscape, which is like no other. Combining acoustic and electronic instruments this recording again extends the boundaries of the conteporary New Music. A masterpiece!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ THE HARD QUEST
CUNEIFORM 120 (Barcode: 045775012025) ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999
6th album by Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist. Most warmly received by fans and critics alike, this album by the new incarnation of the group is as great as one can expect. The sound is a combination of their unique instrumentation blended with Gothic imagery and strong, classically influenced writing. A true example of cutting edge modern music.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | UNIVERS ZERO ~ UZED
CUNEIFORM 015 (Barcode: 045775001524) ~ BELGIUM ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1984 Released: 1988
4th album by the brilliant Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist. A continuation of the trend set by the previous album, with even more expanded compositions and range of instruments. In true spirit of the RIO. movement, the group never had a steady line-up and as many as 21 musicians participated in their recordings over the years, with Daniel DenisFind albums by this artist being the only constant factor in the group.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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