Beekstraat 1 - B-2640 Mortsel - Belgium

ZAAR : Zaar

Release

Style

Avant-Progressive Rock

Some of you may remember Sotos? A young French progressive band (age 16 to 25) that shared remarkable concert bills with France’s top of the pop. Fortunately, they’ve never compromised. Reshaped in Zaar, the brothers Hazera (guitarist Yan and drummer Michael) are still standing their own artistic ground. The most remarkable novelty here is the hurdy gurdy (vielle a roué), an instrument that goes back to the medieval times. It has several strings that vibrate by turning a crank attached to a wheel; one plays a melody by pressing keys on the instrument, while the other strings drone. Certainly, it has its very specific sound, somewhere between electric organ, cello and bagpipes. It lends the music its very own originality.

Zaar’s eponymous debut album delivers compositions as various in length as between a half and twenty minutes. They weave intricate melodies based upon Crimsonian polyrhythmics. The ensemble playing comes with craft-man’s like precision. The overall musical colour is dark, with passages contrasting between violence and intimacy. This foursome is settling nicely in the chamber rock/RIO/zeuhl vein. The question remains, whether the hurdy gurdy will prove to be a limited formula, or whether the band will have the potential to take things up to a new level the next time. Anyhow, fans of King Crimson, Univers Zero or Anekdoten will consider this Cuneiform release a real treat. The CD was recorded by noted sound engineer and musician Bob Drake, who worked with Sotos and Thinking Plague and captures the rich overtones of the four instruments. The bright production values shine all the way through this album. Another great job from this stand-out adventurous label.

Musicians

1. Sëfir (20:07)
2. Zolg (1:59)
3. Ce n'est pas triste (2:42)
4. Tougoudougoum (1:29)
5. Discasambo (3:23)
6. Omk (17:20)
7. Scherzaaah (0:38)
8. Scherzo # C (4:45)
9. [...]

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Last updated: 10 april 2006 .
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