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Dolorosa - Het! CD (album) cover

HET!

Dolorosa

Krautrock


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Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars DOLOROSA are a band out of France who have released two studio albums and this is the second one from 2012. They are in fact a duo who have created something special here in my opinion. There's a strong Krautrock or Psychedelic vibe with a noticeable Zeuhl flavour. The Zeuhl moments are mostly from the deep chantings reminding me of Blasquiz. The music is more experimental and psychedelic bringing many Krautrock bands to mind but also early PINK FLOYD. I gotta say I loved this right from the first spin. They use something called an Electronic Wind Instrument or EWI which has a high pitched sound to it. We also get baritone and soprano sax, effects and loop station besides the usual instruments.

"Het 1" opens with some relaxed guitar that is fairly intricate sounding as laid back sax melodies join in. Reserved vocals follow around a minute in plus that EWI crying out. The vocals stop around 2 minutes but not for long. This is trippy stuff that sounds unique. I like that slow repetitive rhythm and the vocals. It slows down around 8 1/2 minutes in as we hear only sax and bass.

"Het 2" is one of two tracks clocking in at over 13 minutes. This one opens with experimental sounds that come and go, this is very "out there" as desperate vocals expressions arrive. This is insane, as in a dark journey with ART ZOYD insane. We start to get a melody after 4 minutes and I'm thinking AMON DUUL II or early FLOYD with creepy vocals as well. He sounds like Blasquiz before 6 minutes as sax or EWI cries out and that trippy rhythm continues. Vocals stop before 7 minutes then sax and EWI join in as it continues to trip along.

"Het 3" is quiet and haunting to start with percussion and deep sounds that vibrate. A real Krautrock vibe here as the tempo picks up and the sax comes and goes over top. The vocal expressions after 2 1/2 minutes are incredible as he repeats the same line over and over. Some grunts and guitar as well. I'm blown away. The chanting and sound is building after 5 minutes, very Zeuhl-like in fact. The sax replaces the guitar and it's fuller before 7 minutes with those deep sounds becoming more prominent as the sax goes wild over top. Catchy and Zeuhlish. The rhythm stops after 10 minutes.

"Het 4" is dark as percussion, faint spoken words and other sounds come and go. This is eerie and for sure headphone music. Great for the imagination I'll say that. We get chanting just before 3 minutes as the tempo and intensity picks up. After 3 1/2 minutes it gets a little insane and extreme then it settles right down late to end it. "Het 5" opens with sampled spoken words with percussion and atmosphere. This continues until after 5 minutes when a catchy beat with chanting takes over and builds. So good! The guitar joins in playing a repetitive melody. It's Zeuhl-101 after 9 1/2 minutes. It all stops 12 1/2 minutes in as it becomes experimental to end it.

This is such a unique sounding recording with that combination of Krautrock and Zeuhl. I feel 5 stars is right even for the innovation that is on display here and coming up with such incredible ideas. I can't even begin to imagine what the process would have been to get to the final result they call "Het!". This is going almost to the top of my "best of list" for 2012.

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Posted Monday, November 7, 2016 | Review Permalink

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