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SCHERZOO

Zeuhl • France


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Scherzoo biography
Founded in Lyon, France in 2005

Scherzoo is a band founded in 2005 by the composer and multi-instrumentalist François THOLLOT.

After the early years marked by a high instability, the line-up of the band is fixed in 2011 with the arrival of NI's François MIGNOT (guitar) and Anthony BEART (bass), Jeremy Van QUACKBEKE (piano), Guillaume LAGACHE (saxophone), and with F.THOLLOT taking the drum seat. This line-up has recorded the two first albums of Scherzoo, entitled 01 (2011) and 02 (2012).

In 2013, F.Thollot is the new bassist, and hires Clement CURAUDEAU (drums, from Sulphat'Ketamine), Maxime MANTOVANI (guitar) and Renaud VERNET (sax). This new formula of the band then records the 03 album in 2014 and performs in a few festivals, including Freakshow (Wurzburg-Ger) and Soleil Zeuhl (Paris - Fra), sharing the bill with Guillaume Perret, Jean Louis or Wobbler.

A new instrumentation is then adopted, without guitar and sax but with a dual-keyboards formula and a whole new repertoire, which was recorded for the 04 album, released in September 2018.

As of 2018 the line-up of the band is: François THOLLOT (Bass), Gregoire PLANCHER (Electric Piano, Mellotron), Anthony PONTET(Electric Piano, Organ) and Clément CURAUDEAU (Drums).

Scherzoo's music is entirely instrumental and combines many influences from the various styles of progressive rock (Canterbury, Zeuhl, RIO, Jazz Fusion, Symphonic), but also in jazz and classical/contemporary music. All the band records have been released via Soleil Zeuhl label, and the first three of them have been mastered by Udi KOOMRAN.

See also: HERE

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SCHERZOO discography


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SCHERZOO top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.61 | 19 ratings
01
2011
3.92 | 20 ratings
02
2012
3.29 | 16 ratings
03
2015
3.86 | 14 ratings
04
2018
4.00 | 15 ratings
05
2020

SCHERZOO Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SCHERZOO Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

SCHERZOO Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SCHERZOO Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

SCHERZOO Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 05 by SCHERZOO album cover Studio Album, 2020
4.00 | 15 ratings

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05
Scherzoo Zeuhl

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars SCHERZOO are a four piece band from France led by multi-instrumentalist Francois Thollot who is playing bass here, on the first two albums he was the drummer. It was on that third record that he did some of each before sticking with the bass after that. I really enjoy his "Contact" album from 2002. I like the set up here with two keyboards, drums and bass. Especially when both keyboardists play electric piano. One also adds organ and synths while the other adds mellotron. We get the same lineup as "04" their previous album.

"05" clocks in at over 54 minutes and eight tracks including that over 14 minute closer "Tsunami". That track is a definite highlight especially those almost 6 minutes to start where we get a lot of sparse moments but contrasted with some action. It's the sparse sections though that impress with the electric piano and especially the bass where it feels like it's in the spotlight for the first time on the album. Francois' bass should be more upfront on this record in my opinion. Now when this final track kicks into gear we get a Zeuhl rhythm and this is another highlight for me. Intense stuff until it settles back around 8 minutes in. Some nasty sounds before the bass, electric piano and drums impress. It all ends in an experimental manner.

Another highlight is the 8 1/2 minute "XZ102" starting out with intricate sounds, I like the bass and the drumming and keys impress before it all gets into this MAGMA-like groove 2 minutes in. The opener "Sunday Therapy" has a real ESKATON moment where I'm actually waiting for the vocals from that band to jump in. Both "Le Reveil" and "Plastic Lizard" have some off-kilter stuff going on, not exactly my thing but both are excellent tracks. I am such a fan of the electric piano and man does this album deliver in that department. We even get birds chirping to end "Bacchanales Bucoliques" and to start "Le Baron Perche".

A solid 4 star album that could have been better. Funny I really like this band but they are a step down for my tastes when compared to similar bands. Not much in the way of mellotron but at least there's some. The organ has a greater role than the synths I feel but again this is an electric piano album all the way.

 05 by SCHERZOO album cover Studio Album, 2020
4.00 | 15 ratings

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05
Scherzoo Zeuhl

Review by kurtrongey

4 stars Scherzoo comes from the prog-infested environs of Lyon, France. As the title indicates, this is their fifth studio album. You'll find Canterbury-styled arrangements merged with the bluesy tritone flavor of Zeuhl. When throwing around the word Zeuhl, there's an expectation of assertive bass playing, and founding member Francois Thollot fills the role fantastically. There are two full-time keyboardists, so expect a lot of layering of chord voicings and ostinato riffs. However, they go for an electric piano-led sound that avoids wall-of-sound lushness. The spare sound of it comes across great when you turn it up loud. The mood is generally quizzical and enigmatic rather than diabolical and ominous.
 03 by SCHERZOO album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.29 | 16 ratings

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03
Scherzoo Zeuhl

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars This is album number three for SCHERZOO and it does feel a little different from the previous two. The Wayside site mentions that this one is jazzier and more melodic than the first two which might explain it somewhat. I also feel like it's less dynamic with less of those avant moments. Francois Thollot is the leader here, a multi-instrumentalist who I first found out about through his earlier project called THOLLOT.

"Experimentation Speciale" opens with keys as the bass and drums join in, then it slows right down as the guitar, drums and bass lead. Some atmosphere after a minute then the sax comes to the fore as it stays slow paced. Angular guitar 3 minutes in followed by some prominent sax and bass. Dissonant sax before 4 1/2 minutes then some intensity as the guitar rips it up. Back to the piano and drums leading at 5 minutes. "Bossa Yakusa" has sounds that rise and fall early on as the bass, drums and keys stand out. Sax comes and goes as themes are repeated. "La Menace" has keys, bass and drums that standout early. Check out the bass before 2 minutes as the guitar follows. Dissonant sax before 4 1/2 minutes.

"Open Cluster" has plenty of angular guitar and I like the dissonant sax after 2 1/2 minutes. It's fairly powerful 4 1/2 minutes in but it settles back quickly. "Orient Express" is my favourite. An urgent sound here with guitar over top. It does settle back 1 1/2 minutes in then builds. Lots of guitar, drums and keys here. It turns more powerful again as these contrasts continue. Deep bass lines before 5 minutes as the drums pound and the sax turns dissonant. A great section but way too brief. A calm after 6 minutes then it builds. "Contagion" is somewhat slow paced with sax over top and this is contrasted with another passage with sax. I like the angular guitar before 6 1/2 minutes then the pace picks up big time just before 7 minutes. It then settles right down again with intricate sounds that come and go.

A good album sure, but for my tastes it doesn't reach the heights of the first two.

 02 by SCHERZOO album cover Studio Album, 2012
3.92 | 20 ratings

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02
Scherzoo Zeuhl

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars 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.

 01 by SCHERZOO album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.61 | 19 ratings

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01
Scherzoo Zeuhl

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Scherzoo were formed at the end of 2009 in Lyon by drummer and also multi-instrumentalist Francois Thollot, who had already put up two solo albums during the decade.He was accompanied by sax player Guillaume Lagache, keyboardist Jeremy Van Quackebeke, guitarist Francois Mignot and bassist Anthony Beard.The majority of Scherzoo's debut ''01'' was written by Thollot and the album was finally released on Soleil Zeuhl in 2011.

Thollot was always influenced by the Zeuhl scene of France, as heard in his two solo outputs, and his efforts with Scherzoo marks no significant difference with his earlier work, maybe Scherzoo's music is reasonably more demanding, as this is more of a band effort.The album is filled with quirky Progressive/Jazz-Rock, characterized by furious interplays and multilple breaks, but it also contains all these Zeuhl-influenced romantic passages, where the gears are down yet the music remains always intricate.Six instrumental compositions, with the last clocking at near 20 minutes long, featuring massive sax interventions and solos, dramatic electric piano and a frenetic rhythm section.Guitars remain steadily in the background and the whole album is based on the unusual rhythm patterns of bass/drums along with the endless piano/sax interplays, sometimes Lagache performance recalls the personal approach of VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR'S David Jackson.

Anyone searching for melodic content, please skip this one.This is highly intricate and complicated Jazz-Rock/Zeuhl with an emphasis on interplays and solos, a really nice effort regarding the style.Warmly recommended.

 01 by SCHERZOO album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.61 | 19 ratings

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01
Scherzoo Zeuhl

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars This is the latest project from Francois Thollot called SCHERZOO. His first two albums were under his own personal name and on the debut he played all the instruments. His second record was much better as he brought in Bussonnet and Jeand'heur on bass and drums respectively and that album still blows me away, in fact it's one of my favourite Zeuhl albums. This one is quite different with the prominant alto-sax and electric piano. Francois is back on the drums and is part of a band here for the first time. I love this music. I swear the sound of electric piano in this style of music sends me. Although listed under Zeuhl this has far more in common with Jazz / Fusion with an Avant flavour. Three tracks on here are from Thollot's debut "Ceux D'en Face" including the title track along with "Enilek" and "Voyage Au Bout De La Nuit" as he has re-worked them and they do sound much different especially with the sax on here. Udi Koomran did an amazing job mastering this recording.

They come out swinging on "Enilek" with dissonant sax along with the drums and piano standing out. It does settle back just before a minute but not for long. Nice chunky bass around 2 minutes.This is incredible ! A calm a minute later with bass,sax and piano then it kicks back in just before 5 minutes. It builds to a climax before we get another calm then a big finish. "Douz" has sax and a lazy beat but it becomes intense quickly. It then settles back before 2 1/2 minutes as the contrasts continue. Dissonant sax 5 1/2 minutes in. "L'an 01" is led by sax, drums and piano early and the tempo keeps changing. I really enjoy this song. Lots of sax and chunky bass. "Beba" has such a great sound after 2 minutes when it kicks in. It does settle back quickly and to be honest this sounds just as good. Nice prominant piano before 4 minutes. A calm a minute later then it picks up again with some deep bass grooves and more. Nice.

The last two tracks were originally on Thollot's debut but I think these versions are much better, especially the final song. "Ceux D'en Face" sounds like something off of KING CRIMSON's "Discipline" album as intricate sounds weave in and around each other. It does settles in before 1 1/2 minutes and we get some huge bass lines around 2 minutes. "Voyage Au Bout De La Nuit" is uptempo with the sax playing over top then it settles with piano only after a minute. Sax and drums join in then it kicks back in before 3 minutes. It settles again with bass then builds. What a ride this is. Check it out before 6 minutes. I'm thinking ONE SHOT here. Hell yeah I am ! Haha. This goes on until around 10 minutes in. It settles 11 1/2 minutes in before kicking in a minute later. Another calm follows. Great sound after 16 1/2 minutes to the end.

A must for fans of that Jazz / Fusion style with a strong avant flavour.

Thanks to DamoXt7942 for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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