Art Zoyd - Musique pour l'Odyssee (Japanese mini-lp sleeve)
SKU
BELLE ANTIQUE 081363
Art Zoyd's early and great works have been unavailable for such a long time that it's too easy to forget what a strikingly original and amazing band they were in their prime. One of the original R.I.O bands (they joined in the second wave of bands, along with Art Bears and Aksak Maboul, if my failing R.I.O.-memory serves me correctly), they also had early ties with Univers Zero, which are quite apparent on this album. This 1979 release, originally issued on the legendary Atem label (along with Univers Zero, This Heat, Present and others) was their second album, but it was the first album to be heard by the general public, their music brought to the fore along with the other RIO bands. They used a unique and really odd instrumentation of violin, viola, trumpet, saxes and electric bass, with guest spots from their friends in UZ: Daniel Denis (percussion) and Michel Berckmans (oboe and bassoon). Note that except for Daniel's (small) participation, there is no drummer involved, but the music is very rhythmically complex and also quite strong in that department. There are a lot of influences from 20th century music but they are definitely a rock band and this has great riffs and structures. This was the first one I heard and is still one of my two favorites by the band. This is a beautifully done Japanese mini-lp sleeve edition of this band and this edition is the only way to buy it; it is not in print in any other form on CD. This includes sort of a stupid bonus track from 1985 that isn't bad, I guess, but has nothing to do with the 1979 album embodied here. Highly recommended.