VON ZAMLA "1983"

Lars Hollmer and Eino Haapala formed VON ZAMLA in 1981 as an offspring from the legendary 70's Swedish progressive band SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA. VON ZAMLA took part in the R.I.O. (Rock in opposition) movement and released two albums: "Zamlaranamma" (1981) and "No Make Up!" (1983). Other band who also were in the R.I.O. movement were ART BEARS, ETRON LE FOU, UNIVERS ZERO and STORMY SIX etc. - This CD contains recordings from two live concerts in Germany during VON ZAMLA's Spring 1983 European tour. As I knew about VON ZAMLA before my expectations were very high when I pressed play on my CD player. I wasn't disappointed when VON ZAMLA's well-recognised music came out of the speakers. The production is very good especially for being live recordings. "1983" features songs from both "Zamlaranamma" (1981) and "No Make Up!" (1983) together with some songs that has never been released on any album before. The cover artwork "Halvtid" is made by Tage Åsén who also did the art work for SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA's albums "Måltid" (1973), "Klossa Knapitatet" (1974), "Schlagerns mystik" (1978) and "Kaka" (1999). - Fans of SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA / VON ZAMLA have had very much to enjoy this year, as SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA has released a new album this year called "Kaka" on the Swedish label Amigo. Both these releases are indispensable stuff. Highly recommended!

As Greger tells you above this is very much in terms of RIO (which they help form with Univers Zero , Henry Cow etc..) but also laced with Gypsy Jazz (circus-like music) For this one, Belgium's Michel Berckmans (of Univers Zero fame) joined the band and he gives a typical Berckmans input with his bassoon.

Among the highlights in this album would be the impressive Temporal You Are with KB layers reminding of Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamonds and the GonG-like Doppler.

Please note the two keyboardists reverse initial which makes difficult to know who plays/writes what lines even though they booklet tells you so but by the initials. Give this album another halfstar.

It is fortunate that Cuneiform Records, that bastion of progressive rock, released these excellent tracks from live shows in Germany, March 1983. It allows all Prog listeners the chance to own something by the legendary Swedish ensemble without having to track down their other hard to find albums, and '1983' provides a comprehensive look into the extraordinary imagination of Michel Berckmans (bassoon, oboe), Eino Haapala (guitar), Lars Hollmer (piano, organ, Korg, accordion), Hans Loelv (keys, melodica), Wolfgang Salomon (bass) and Marten Tiselius (drums).

A bit like Univers Zero in sound but more rock-oriented and less dark (but no less intriguing), the Zamlas were truly breaking new ground in their time with avant-chamber mayhem and driving dissonance. The music pumps with a creepy, Monster Mash hipness and astounding changes in mode and tempo, filled with delicate lines, little details, and bizarre humor. The group draws influence from seemingly all music at once and spits it back out with flair and bold disregard for convention or popular ideals. The thirteen cuts brim with this energy and it is hard to find a weak moment in it, though perhaps the silly vocalizations will sour some to the experience. But the vast majority of tunes here are instrumental and offer much with a truly progressive form of rock music. It may take many listens to fully appreciate but VZ is an act that every proghead should own at least a small amount of.

1983 is an excellent collection of live tracks from the Swedish RIO unit Von Zamla, recorded in - yes - 1983 and featuring ex-members of Samla Mammas Manna and Univers Zero.

Because I'm not familiar with Samla Mammas Manna, I can only compare this album to other RIO acts such as Art Zoyd and Univers Zero. Especially the early albums of these bands come to mind, meaning lots of Stravinsky merged with rock drums and electric bass, ethnic music influences and, in case of Von Zamla, a playful touch that makes this album a more pleasant journey then Univers Zero's usual trudge through dark and scary swamps.

But it doesn't turn into a carnival neither. Von Zamla is lighter in tone but not less intense in execution, as the playing is focussed and inspired all the way through. Harujanta can serve as an excellent example of the often burlesque turn that Von Zamla's music can take, whereas Ten Tango, Temporal You Are and Doppler are decidedly more harsh and serious.

While pleasant, melodic and generally upbeat, the many dissonant harmonies and looming rhythms will cast a dark shade disturbing the calm and quite of the snug shelter that was your living room. So be warned, don't expose other family members without warning.

I guess you could say that VON ZAMLA are an offshoot of SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA and ZAMLA MAMMAZ MANNA. In fact they dedicate the bonus track to these two bands. Cool that Michel Berckmans from UNIVERS ZERO was part of this band on their tour. He plays bassoon and aboe.These tracks are taken from two concerts a couple of days apart in Germany in March of 1983.

"Ten Tango" is led by aboe then piano and other intricate sounds start to come and go as it gets fuller. Great sound here. Guitar after 3 minutes.The mood changes before 4 1/2 minutes as it turns dark with bassoon. "Forgeetyde" kicks in quickly and we get horns 1 1/2 minutes in. So much going on.This is amazing ! "Harujanta" opens with horns and an upbeat rhythm as spoken vocals join in.They will come and go. Accordion in this one too.This is just a joy to listen to. "Temporal You Are" opens with atmosphere and no melody. Love this stuff. We start to get a rhythm 3 minutes in as the atmosphere continues.Vocal melodies come in and they're melancholic. "Antsong" has a humerous ryhthm to it with the horns honking.The guitar replaces the horns before 3 minutes but they return a minute later.

"Fur Munju / Indo Jazz" is mostly accordion and aboe playing over this pulsating beat. "Glassmusic" is a short haunting piece. "Rainbox" is mainly accordion, aboe, drums and piano. "Doppler" builds slowly and it becomes quite intense after 2 minutes. Great sound ! "Akarondo" opens with vocal melodies and clapping as the music joins in after a minute then takes over. "Dancing Madras" is mostly one of the band members talking to the audience then the music kicks in and blends into "Clandestine". Bass, aboe and piano standout early and it's fairly uptempo. Organ and laughter before 2 minutes.Vocal expressions before 5 minutes.

What a great album ! A nice addition to my SAMLA and ZAMLA albums.

Von Zamla was born in the wake of Zamla Mammaz Manna's split, with keyboardist Lars Holmer and guitarist Eino Haapala (who'd joined the previous band just as they transformed from Samla Mammas Manna into Zamla Mammaz Manna) dusting themselves down, recruiting some new colleagues, and then continuing their forays into deep RIO territory. This live album is gleaned from a set of shows they did in March 1983.

The slightly Germanic-sounding name of this configuration of the band is apt, given the intense drum work of Mårten Tiselius which puts me in mind of the motorik approach of some Krautrock groups, but the Canterbury-esque roots of the Zamla/Samla legacy are still just about audible here. With a range of strong compositions - pieces from both Von Zamla albums, rarities only to be found here, and even an old Samla track - the band put in a great showing and by and large the track selection on the album is great, with the result that the hour-and-a-bit of material on here simply flies by. Highly recommended to all fans of this Swedish powerhouse of avant-prog.