Univers Zero ~ Belgium

Ceux Du Dehors (1981)

I was surprised to learn that I haven't covered a single Univers Zero album in UMR. I had really tired of the band in the last 20 years, and sold off all the later titles starting with Heatwave and ending with Clivages. But I kept their classic 2nd through 4th albums, of which this represents the middle. So might as well get started here, an album I haven't heard since the 90s I'd submit. If any of the other Univers Zero albums walk back in here, I can readdress them at that time.

It starts off in a hellish mode, chamber music for the 5th rung. I had forgotten that there was mellotron here, an instrument that I would never associate with the music of Univers Zero. Once the music settles down, the mood only goes darker. Game of Thrones styled classical music, 30 years before the fact. Definitely not an album to pick up ones' spirits (well, I know a couple of guys who do get excited at hearing this). This is sit down, take a deep breath, and lower the lights music. Just make sure there is some light. 

I definitely appreciate the album more when they incorporate rock elements (especially on 'Combat'), though that certainly isn't their main premise. I'm not sure avant prog is really the right genre for Univers Zero. They've been shoehorned in for a lack of a better tag. When I was in my 20s, they were called RIO, but that was even more vague given that it was never meant to be a genre, but rather an attitude. Chamber rock isn't much better. Give them credit, Univers Zero is unique within the musical landscape.

Subscription copies came with an additional one sided 7 inch, that was later added to the CD reissues ('Triomphe Des Mouches'). It's similar to the shorter and darker tracks on the album proper with some martial percussion.

I'll probably never be the world's foremost Univers Zero fan, but I can appreciate greatly what they're doing. Variety is good for the collection. I'll probably hang onto these three, which I've had forever, and likely stop there. More to come.

Ownership: 1981 Recommended (LP). Acquired in 1992.

1992; 3/8/26 (review)

Also own and need to review: Heresie; Uzed; Crawling Wind

3/8/26 (new entry)