SOLEIL D'ORK

That noise you hear is my head bouncing off my computer desk in frustration. Why did it take me so long to get into Zeuhl ? I had this vision that Zeuhl was this dark, tribal music with chanting, so I stayed away. When I finally decided to check it out I found it was this dark, tribal music with chanting and I love it ! Jannick Top who played bass for MAGMA on three of their studio albums, as well as Vander's first solo record, offers up a collection of his finest compositions from 1974-1980. There are some legendary guests of course, but this is mostly Top's instrumental work including playing all the instruments on a couple of tracks.

"Epithecantropus Erectus" is different with those male vocal chants that are both deep and rough with high pitched female vocal melodies joining in. The instrumental work includes angular guitar with a pulsating rhythm of bass and drums. Some piano too. "Utopia Viva" features what sounds like synths, as drums pound away and bass throbs relentlessly.This song has an appropriate title as it has an euphoric feel to it. Lots going on in this tune, and we get some sax before 5 minutes. "La Musique Des Spheres" consists of heavy drums and a spacey soundscape throughout. This is an absolutely killer song. There are two guest percussionists on this one. "Mekanik Machine" is my favourite song and includes some MAGMA members including Vander on drums, Blasquisz on vocals, Olmos on guitar("MDK"), and Gauthier on keyboards. As laplace points out this sounds like a lost MAGMA song. The vocal melodies are fantastic, both male and female. The guitar is amazing as well and tempos change often. She can really hold a note as heard 3 1/2 minutes in. The bass is quite chunky. The song speeds up before 8 minute to a frenzied soundscape including some screaming guitar. Great song !

"Soleil D'Ork" is dominated by Top's bass lines and lighter sounding male vocal melodies. This has such an incredible hypnotic sound to it. "De Futura" is almost 23 minutes long and features the amazing talents of Richard Pinhas from HELDON on guitar ! Jannick had guested on one of HELDON's albums in 1976. It opens with dark sounds as we get lots of atmosphere. Spoken words 1 1/2 minutes in and a melody before 3 minutes. Here we go ! Drums pound as guitar, bass and male vocal melodies fill out the sound. Some killer angular guitar melodies and then after 7 minutes the guitar and vocal melodies combine beautifully. The vocal melodies do stop at times but the beat is relentless. It speeds up 14 minutes in. This is great ! Pinhas lays down some terrific guitar melodies as it starts to speed up again. Spoken words to end it with some eerie sounds. "Glas" opens with the wind blowing as we get a dark, psychedelic vibe happening. It sounds like waves in the background as sleepy vocals arrive into this haunting atmosphere.

There is no doubt about this being a 5 star record. This is Zeuhl music at it's finest.