EDWARD M. ZAJDA

'Edward M. Zajda' pours forth a heavy synth freakout cut-up recording full of mashed up vocals, tuneless notes and tones and grinding, swaying electro-acoustics . It appears to be his only release. Maybe he felt snubbed and ignored then decided the public didn't deserve to hear his genius?

In 2015, it's nothing special. So much has passed since its release in '68. but that's what makes this all the more remarkable in my mind. I can't imagine the most hardened Floyd 'Ummagumma' or Tangerine Dream 'Electronic Meditation' listener having much time for this.

'Zajda' has a random scatter-gun approach, with various electronic sounds blurting and stabbing at inopportune moments. There's not the slightest hint of tune throughout and should really be classed as 'Musique Concrete' in the style of Michel Chion, or Francis Dhomont.

There's quite a lot of ring modulated sounds at play later on which are heavily edited. I bet this was a lot more difficult to record than it sounds, that's for sure. An album full of knob twisting and button pushing. The most similar recording I can think on would be Malcolm Clarke's BBC Radiophonic Workshop soundtrack for the 1972 Dr Who serial 'The Sea Devils'. It was just as crazy and random, being a real oddity at the time.

Come to think of it, this can't possibly have been released in '68 because there's a cut-up vocal of the moon landing quote 'The Eagle has Landed' from '69. How is this possible? I guess 'Zajda' will just remain an unknown mystery and enigma forever.