LE MARIAGE DU CIEL ET DE L'ENFER

This was released as a double album back in 1985 and was the music for Roland Petit's ballet called "The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell". It's hard to believe this was used as music for a ballet, although Petit was known for his theatrical productions. He apparently saw ART ZOYD on television and so contacted them about doing this. I must say I feel very fortunate to have this cd as it is the last of their chamber music period before they went heavily into electronics.This is the only one of their early period that is not out of print yet, and it's one of their best. I got my copy at "Wayside Music". What's it sound like ? Well my favourite place to listen to music is in my truck on my hour drive to and from work. I listen to the longer cds like this on my way home because I can take my time and go the long way. I've been listening to this all week at work and one customer gave me a hard time about it saying I should have Christmas music on instead of this depressing stuff, I decided to let him live. So tonight on the way home in the dark I had a careful listen to this recording.The closest reference in my opinion is UNIVERS ZERO, in that this is very intense and dark.This is more minimilstic and experimental but every bit as good, in fact I like it better than UNIVERS ZERO's early works.

"Sortie 134(Part 1)" opens with a lot of tension as dual piano melodies and trumpet lead the way before it calms down and we can hear children laughing. Some violin and piano before a full sound comes back 3 minutes in that comes and goes. A change before 6 minutes as we get lots of percussion and piano. Vocal melodies before 8 minutes.This is intense ! Great track ! It ends with children laughing again as it blends into "Cryogenese(Reve Artificiel)". The sound of a metronome ticking can be heard as trumpet blasts and piano comes in. A change 3 minutes in as the metronome stops and the trumpet and piano continue. Again this is so intense. Another change 5 minutes in as metronome returns with piano. I'm reminded of UNIVERS ZERO 6 1/2 minutes in. Trumpet a minute later. Actually an outbreak of trumpet 9 1/2 minutes in goes on for a minute. It becomes so intense and unrelenting. Another change 14 1/2 minutes in as some strange sounds replace the trumpet. Sounds like synths 16 1/2 minutes in as the piano stops. What a ride that was. "Io 1" features sax melodies that are at time dissonant. "Io 2" is eerie and haunting. A cool rhythm with sax comes in that stops and starts. I like this one.

"Io 3" opens with almost a pulsating sound as violin comes in. It stops and then continues but this time piano is added. It stops again and restarts.This part is kind of spooky. Vocal melodies join 4 minutes in. "Mouvance 2" incorporates these beautiful piano melodies. A full sound before 3 minutes. "Mouvance 1" features more piano but it's more aggressive. Trumpet comes in tastefully as we again have two pianos being played. The intensity is removed as the song settles down. Violin comes in as piano quietly plays on. "Cryogenese(Les Portes Du Futur)" opens with outbursts of piano. Percussion comes and goes. Organ and trumpet 1 1/2 minutes in. The outbreaks come back. Violin 3 1/2 minutes in. Vocal sounds. Metronome comes in. Organ 7 minutes in. The rest of the song is fantastic ! One of the best part of the album. It has more of a melody with trumpet blasts, piano and organ. "Sortie 134(Part 2)" has a good beat, and the children laughing are back. Vocal melodies and speaking as well. Great ending to this album.

When I finished listening to this I thought to myself "Was that just a bad dream I had ?" ART ZOYD have just been put near the top of my favourite Rio-Prog band list. Get this record !!