Corima - Quetzalcoatl. 2012 USA-Texas/California

Corima are a group who first assembled in El Paso and moved to Los Angeles. Their full length debut is an astounding album. It maintains the intensity of the Japanese Zeuhl school (think Koenji Hyakkei), but possesses a much clearer focus and the music is given more room to breathe. Violin, saxophone, fuzz keyboards, and female vocals are the distinguishing sounds and characteristics of the album. There is plenty of amazing super-tight ensemble work throughout - all in hyper drive - that are truly sublime. The melodic interludes that constantly pop up among the chaos are truly enlightening in this setting. Magma's Mekanik is the most obvious comparison overall, though they go faster and harder than that may imply. All five members put in a fantastic performance, but special mention goes to Andrea Itzpaplotl (nee Calderon) for her brilliant violin work and beautiful vocals - and to Sergio Sanchez-Ravelo for his monster staccato drum work. He must've lost 20 pounds just recording this album! For my tastes, one of the best Zeuhl albums since the glory days of Eskaton!

Ownership: CD: 2012 Soleil Zeuhl. Jewel case release with liner notes explaining the album's contents.

10/3/12 (first listen / review / new entry); 1/19/24