02

SCHERZOO is the project of drummer Francois Thollot. I'm a huge fan of his "Contact" album that is listed on this site under his own name, in fact it's one of my favourite Zeuhl records. This group sounds different than that though with the prominant sax which is often dissonant which gives the music here more of an Avant / Jazz flavour more so than Zeuhl. Still that electric piano and growly bass do bring Zeuhl to mind. Like on SCHERZOO's debut we get a couple of tracks from Francois Thollot's first album ("Ceux D'en Face") that he has re-worked for our enjoyment. I get the feeling he regrets doing that first album all by himself and so after re-doing three of the songs on SCHERZOO's debut and two more here he just has two left to transform. By the way I heard through the grape-vine that the guitarist has left SCHERZOO and they have hired a violinist to replace him. Interesting.

"Yin / Yang" opens with the drums and electric piano standing out as the sax comes in quietly. It starts to intensify before 2 minutes. Great sound here as the sax starts to honk. It settles before 3 minutes as the guitar then chunky bass kicks in. So good. Solo bass takes over before 3 1/2 minutes then it builds. It settles back with sax out front. It's getting freaky 5 1/2 minutes in with that dissonant guitar, crazy keys and sax. Great sound when the electric piano and bass start to lead. "02" is the longest song at over 8 minutes and it opens with pulsating sounds as the organ and sax join in. Guitar to the fore before a minute. Sax joins in and the bass is digging deep here. Huge bass before 2 1/2 minutes then we get that opening pulsating sound again as it re-builds. It becomes more intense after 3 1/2 minutes. Nice. It settles some 6 1/2 minutes in with the organ returning. "M.A. Suite" is another long one at just under 8 minutes. Piano to start then it turns rather jazzy baby. Just listen to the intricate drumming and electric piano here. Nice. Sax to the fore 2 minutes in. Suddenly the sax turns dissonant as the music explodes. It settles back some after 3 1/2 minutes but this is still intense. Growly bass 4 1/2 minutes in. Guitar can be heard a minute later as the bass shakes the soundscape.

"Six Feet Under" opens with picked guitar as the organ floats in then the sax and drums follow. They start to "rock" before a minute. A calm before 2 1/2 minutes then picked guitar comes in joined by drums. It kicks in with outbursts of sound. The organ is back too. Check out the sax after 3 1/2 minutes. This is followed by a calm then different sounds come and go including bass, sax and organ before it kicks back in after 5 minutes. Great track ! "Invasion" was on Thollot's debut. It opens with pulsating organ and drums as the sax joins in. Electric piano comes in as it calms down but contrasts will continue. Guitar and electric piano lead 3 1/2 minutes in as the drums pound. The sax joins in too.

Next is "Breaking Bad" haha. It opens with guitar, drums and bass as the electric piano then sax join in. I like this one a lot. Growly bass 2 1/2 minutes in as the electric piano and guitar impress. A calm before 3 1/2 minutes as the bass vibrates the soundscape. It starts to build until they are kicking ass "Breaking Bad" style. "Vingt-Trois" is the other song re-done from Thollot's debut. Lots of bombast early on then it settles back but not for long. Great sound ! The guitar grinds away as the electric piano pulsates. Another calm with sax follows but again it's not for long. Dissonant sax joins in the chaos. "18H09" is atmospheric to start with intricate guitar. Man I love the mood here after 1 1/2 minutes. Sax joins in a minute later. Great sound 4 minutes in ! It sounds like fuzzed out organ 4 1/2 minutes in. Not worthy !

Well this has the same lineup as the debut and it's in the same style. I might like the debut a little more but both are essential in my opinion to those who love adventerous music.