COMPLEX COMBAT

Love the title they chose for this one because it does describe the music very well. For this their second recording they have added a real drummer in Daniel Jeand'heur from ONE SHOT. I'm a real fan of this talented drummer and was excited when I heard the news he was going to play on this album. He does not disappoint in the least. Kenichi Oguchi from KENSO guests on synths for 2 tracks. This is an album not unlike a UNIVERS ZERO record where you really have to give it your full attention or forget it. This is not good background music. I really felt that this album had more in common with UNIVERS ZERO and PRESENT than a lot of Zeuhl bands i have heard. This is intricate, dark and complex.

"Double Army" opens with odd-metered drumming and random keys before an outbreak of guitar. It's 2 minutes before we get a real melody, and it's slow paced. Scorching guitar breaks out as drums pound out intricate patterns.This is great ! Lots of keys and organ. More ripping guitar comes and goes until we get a calm after 8 minutes of piano and drums.The guitar breaks that up 10 minutes in as the sound becomes very intense. "Theatre Anatomy" opens with slowly played piano as we can hear guys coughing over and over. This becomes dark and tense with organ and keys as the guitar offers up angular sounds. Complex not unlike chamber music but electric with all these intricate sounds coming and going. Dark sounding organ before 8 minutes also comes and goes.

"Mole's Egg" opens with organ and drums before guitar comes in with attitude. Check out the synth solo 1 1/2 minutes in by Oguchi. Nice. It's followed up with a blistering guitar solo. Keys and angular guitar 3 minutes in. Some powerful organ comes and goes. Pounding drums after 6 minutes. Check out the guitar after 7 minutes to end it. "Ozy" is dark and heavy to start with. I love listening to the drums here as the angular guitar grinds and scrapes away. Another guest synth solo 4 1/2 minutes in and after 6 minutes. Complex combat aptly describes the rest of the song. "Logos" opens with powerful organ as drums burst upon the scene. It becomes very intense 1 1/2 minutes in. This is all about the drums and organ. The drumming before 6 minutes is outstanding. So much going on during this track.

4.5 stars.This really blew me away. Almost 5 stars in my opinion.The complexity, darkness and drum work are mind-boggling.