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DOLOROSA

Krautrock • France


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Dolorosa biography
DOLOROSA started out in 2002 as a solo undertaking by multi-instrumentalist Vincenzo GROSSO, a veteran of several underground bands who was forced to give up his primary instrument (the drums) because of a health issue that prevents him from using his right leg to play the bass drum. The first DOLOROSA release was a self-titled mini-album in 2004, where various percussion instruments were used to compensate for the absence of drums.

DOLOROSA has subsequently operated as a duo, with guitarist Nicolas ROGER on board for the first full-length work ''De Mutation En Mutation'' (2006). This album consists of revised versions of the six tracks from the original EP plus another six pieces. Despite lacking the services of a drummer, the album is nonetheless invested with rhythmic energy and tension. The use of percussion in addition to the largely acoustic acid-folk atmospheres furnishes the material with an introspective, primitive impulse. Melodic and mysterious, ''De Mutation En Mutation'' has been described in some quarters as Zeuhl-pop and it draws on a broad range of influences such as the softer moments of POPOL VUH and the music of French singer-songwriter Hubert-Félix THIÉFAINE. In addition GROSSO's vocal style is inspired by the spoken word performances of William S. BURROUGHS, and his dark-themed lyrics by Peter HAMMILL.

ROGER played the xaphoon (a bamboo sax comparable to a clarinet) on one track, a significant detail because he was replaced around the turn of 2008 by saxophonist Daniel PALOMO VINUEZA who had played together with GROSSO in the Brussels-based jazz-rock ensemble PANOPTICUM. The current DOLOROSA's ''Het!'' (2012) is a product of that live improvisation aesthetic. It comprises five jam tracks transformed by technological processes and devices such as the electronic wind instrument (ewi) used by PALOMO VINUEZA to record loops in real time. This is a more challenging and hypnotic work with rambling trippy improvisations and chant-like vocals that carry vague intimations of the first incarnation of AMON DÜÜL (circa ''Paradieswärts Düül'').

''De Mutation En Mutation'' is currently available on CD and ten tracks from the album can be downloaded from the band's official site. ''Het!'' is available to download via bandcamp.

- seventhsojourn

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DOLOROSA discography


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

3.00 | 2 ratings
De Mutation En Mutation
2006
4.72 | 6 ratings
Het!
2012

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

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

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

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

0.00 | 0 ratings
Dolorosa
2004

DOLOROSA Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 De Mutation En Mutation by DOLOROSA album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.00 | 2 ratings

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De Mutation En Mutation
Dolorosa Krautrock

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars This was DOLOROSA's debut from 2006. This French duo had released an EP in 2004 and half of the songs on this album feature those 6 songs. I fell in love with their second album called "Het!" from 2012 but this is quite different from that masterpiece. Vocals are pretty much spoken throughout this album and there's lots of them singing in French. No drums but lots of percussion and guitar, this is quite rhythmic. We get an exotic instrument called a xaphoon on a few tracks which I like. Unfortunately the first half of the album does little for me but a strong second half brings this up to 3 1/2 stars in my opinion.

"De Mutation En Mutation" reminds me of an 80's song I can't think of but this starts with percussion and more as the bass joins in then guitar. Almost spoken vocals follow. They will come and go. Not a bad start. "Les Fantomes" from the EP opens with xaphoon with percussion and guitar. Very relaxed as soft spoken vocals join in. The xaphoon leaves quickly but is back at 2 1/2 minutes as the vocals stop to the end. "En Sommeil" also from the EP has some in your face guitar that comes and goes before it all settles in with reserved vocals and more. I like the guitar after 3 minutes.

"Bien Au Coeur" has acoustic guitar to start before percussion and bass join in. Electric guitar too and it's quite relaxed as spoken vocals join in. Some angular guitar takes over but it's still laid back then the electric guitar from earlier returns to end it. "Dans Le Fond" from the EP has outbursts of sound and the vocals come and go until it settles in with buzzing guitar. "Lllimite" is my least favourite. I get annoyed with the repetitive guitar as well as with the spoken vocals here.

"Spirale" begins a series of tracks I like. Picked guitar as whispered vocals join in. Percussion is next as it builds then stays repetitive. This reminds me of the second album and it's my favourite. "Le Cervelle I" is a slow trippy piece with outbursts of guitar until the vocals arrive. Spoken vocals follow with strummed guitar and percussion. Electric guitar lets it rip then themes are repeated. Great sounding track. "Le Cervelle II" is percussion only at first but a full sound with vocals arrives quickly. Xaphoon too and it will be prominent. Vocals are sparse and distant then they become almost chants.

"Eldolon" has plenty of depth as the vocals join in and he's actually singing. I like this one. "Guerilla" has guitar, percussion and determined vocals. This is from the EP and it's excellent. "Cor Ne Edito" ends it with picked guitar and spoken vocals at first before percussion, vocals and a steady sound take over. I like the ending without vocals as electric guitar, percussion and tin flute end it.

So it was good to hear their beginnings but I'll treasure that 2012 release. This is worth checking out for sure.

 Het! by DOLOROSA album cover Studio Album, 2012
4.72 | 6 ratings

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Het!
Dolorosa Krautrock

Review by 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.

Thanks to seventhsojourn for the artist addition.

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