05

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.