Record Reviews

BBI ~ BBI SOLEIL ZEUHL 15 (Barcode: 8713657090813) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1996 Released: 2008 French trio BBIFind albums by this artist recorded just one album before the members moved on to other projects. The members were guitarist Laurent ImperatoFind albums by this artist (ex-XaalFind albums by this artist), bassist Philippe BussonnetFind albums by this artist (MagmaFind albums by this artist, One ShotFind albums by this artist) and drummer Jean-Claude BuireFind albums by this artist (ex-OfferingFind albums by this artist). The album is quite similar to the instrumental Jazz-Rock Fusion guitar oriented music played by One Shot, driven by the superb bass lines played by Bussonnet. The music is highly energetic and improvised, with the guitar performing some wild pyrotechnics. The repetitive rhythmic patterns and the intensive sound of the French Zeuhl school, developed by the Magma camp, are of course the foundation, but this album is definitely more Fusion oriented that any of the Magma albums. Three of the six composition present here, written by Bussonnet will appear later in reworked form on the first One Shot album three years later. Magma and Zeuhl fans will jump on this album, but it is recommended to all listeners who love guitar power trios. Thanks to Soleil ZeuhlFind albums on this label one more gem from the French heritage has been rescued from oblivion. The music was mastered and restored by the Israeli sound wizard Udi KoomranFind albums by this artist.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ESKATON ~ 4 VISIONS SOLEIL ZEUHL 23 (Barcode: 2090503360884) ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1979 Released: 2010 1st album of the fantastic French Zeuhl band EskatonFind albums by this artist, which finally gets the long overdue reissue treatment (remastered by the Israeli sound wizard Udi KoomranFind albums by this artist) with the addition of some great bonus tracks. This is another great release by the tiny, but consistently superb Soleil ZeuhlFind albums on this label label. Eskaton continues and expands the music of MagmaFind albums by this artist, the precursor / inventor of the Zeuhl movement, but adds a distinctive style of its own and eschews many of the elements (like droning and endless repetition) that make Magma often difficult to swallow. Led by pianist Marc RozenbergFind albums by this artist, who also composed all of the band´s music, and featuring a double female vocals chants by Paule KleynnaertFind albums by this artist and Amara TahirFind albums by this artist, the band managed to create a remarkable body of music as documented on their three albums (and a fourth unreleased one). Both Prog and Zeuhl fans will find this album indispensible, since no other band ever managed to achieve the same level of excellence and execution in that particular niche, although the album should be of interest to all open-minded music enthusiasts, especially those interested in Jazzy improvisations and complex Fusion. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

NOA ~ NOA SOLEIL ZEUHL 26 (Barcode: 2090503519145) ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1980 Released: 2011 This is a reissue of the only album by the obscure French band NoaFind albums by this artist, a great gem of the French Zeuhl with strong Jazz influences, modeled on the work by Henry CowFind albums by this artist and many other experimental / Avant-Garde ensembles of the day. Fronted by wordless female vocals (vocalese) with saxophone, flute, guitar and drums this is a superb document of an era, when music was still made for the sake of Art. Remastered to CD by Udi KoomranFind albums by this artist, this is a must to all fans of great strange music and another great release by the excellent French Soleil ZeuhlFind albums on this label label.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STRAVE ~ 1 SOLEIL ZEUHL 27 (Barcode: 2090503519152) ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1980 Released: 2011 This is a reissue of the first album by the obscure French Zeuhl / Jazz-Rock group StraveFind albums by this artist, led by drummer Serge BringolfFind albums by this artist. Originally a double LP, the album feature a full blown tentet lineup of the group, which includes a full brass section. Strongly influenced by the British Canterbury Scene and experimental British and French Rock groups, this is some great music, which remained mostly unknown and sadly forgotten on the last 30 years. Remastered to CD by Udi KoomranFind albums by this artist, this is a must to all fans of great strange music and another great release by the excellent French Soleil ZeuhlFind albums on this label label.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SYMPOZION ~ KUNDABUFFER THOUSAND 01 (Barcode: 7290010936991) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2005 Released: 2006 Excellent debut album by the Israeli Prog group SympozionFind albums by this artist, which has been around since about 5 years, but only recently released their first recording. They play a unique music, heavily influenced by a variety of Prog classics, but also other influences like RIO and classical music. The album is almost entirely instrumental, with just a few minor vocal passages in Hebrew. The two guitarists and keyboards provide plenty of interesting solos and the rhythm section is solid and inventive. The sound is exceptional (the album was engineered Udi KoomranFind albums by this artist). It is heartwarming to see Sympozion joining the ranks of several other new Israeli Prog groups in a surge of creativity, placing the country well on the genre`s map.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend