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Neom - Arkana Temporis CD (album) cover

ARKANA TEMPORIS

Neom

Zeuhl


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Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 4.5 stars. Another new Zeuhl band from France (keep them coming) that is impressing me big time. Of course Rhodes piano, chunky bass and dynamite drumming will do that for me. Some excellent guitar work here too,and our own Udi Koomran also mastered this album. We get four long tracks ranging from about 12 minutes to 15 minutes and one short 3 1/2 minute tune.

ACT I is divided into three parts. "Part 1" opens with lots of atmosphere as piano and guitar join in. It kicks in after 2 1/2 minutes with drums and guitar leading. The bass is excellent once this track settles in. Check out the guitar before 4 minutes ! Some female vocal melodies as it settles more.The vocals start to get more intense bringing MAGMA to mind. Male vocal melodies 8 1/2 minutes in as the sound becomes more upbeat. Great sound before 10 1/2 minutes as the guitar, bass, drums and keys dominate. "Part 2" is mellow with sparse piano then female vocal melodies. It kicks in as these contrasts continue.

"Part 3" has some killer bass on it as the tempo picks up quickly. The guitar is shredding the soundscape briefly a minute in (more later too). A calm before 2 1/2 minutes but it builds quickly with fat bass lines. Themes are repeated until we get these melancholic vocal melodies and sound after 6 minutes until it kicks back in at 13 1/2 minutes where it becomes very Zeuhlish. "Part 4" is mellow with female vocal melodies and sparse keys. It kicks in after 4 1/2 minutes as vocals continue. The tempo and mood continue to shift. Guitar before 10 minutes then it turns dark with outbursts of sound. ACT II "Part 1" opens with the piano playing slowly. Heaviness comes and goes until it stays after 3 minutes. It settles some 4 minutes in. It's building before 6 minutes followed by some nice guitar. Intense stuff and the bass is huge. The Zeuhlish vocals are back late.Nice.

Please check this album out and also XING SA's new one. Zeuhl fans should be hunting these two recordings down pronto.

Report this review (#290006)
Posted Monday, July 12, 2010 | Review Permalink
4 stars Arkana Temporis is a interesting recording from French band Neom recorded in 2008 and released by Soleil Zeuhl in 2009. Although they display a strong Magma influence they are not a Magma clone with their own sound and display some Canterbury influences too.

The music on the disc is divided into two Acts, Act I composed of four parts and Act II with one part. The music opens with a quiet atmospheric piece dominated by cymbals, a low growling bass in the backgound, before the guitar, keyboards and drums join in. It has a bit of a Canterbury feel more than Zeuhl at this stage but as the track progresses the Zeuhl influences become more dominant.

Act I, Part 2 is the shortest track at 3:36 minutes (the others range from just under 12 to over 15 minutes). It begins with another gentle introduction, then alternates between intense bass/percussion sections and mellower passages. Vocals are used sparingly as sound effects rather than as lyric based songs, which is true of the vocals throughout the disc.

Act I, Part 3 is the longest track clocking in at 15:12 and displays more of a Magma influence gradually building to a Magma-like crescendo in the final three minutes. There is some fine drumming in this piece.

Act I, Part 4 starts with another mellow introduction followed by intense drumming and growling bass.

Act II, Part 1 also begins with some mellow piano and ethereal female vocals. As the track progresses it is interspersed by short bursts of guitar before thundering bass and drums join in along with some blistering guitar.

I don't know if Neom are still active but it would be a shame if this was their first and last recording.

I have debated about the rating, to give it a 3 star rating seems unfair although it might not be considered an essential part of a prog rock collection it is certainly a 4 star rating for Zeuhl fans. Oh what the hell I am feeling generous today I am going to give it 4 stars

Report this review (#1246682)
Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2014 | Review Permalink

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