Zanov - Moebius 256 301. 1977 France

I have some thoughts up on this blog already about Green Ray, Zanov's debut. His sophomore effort continues in that vein. The late 70s was filled with budding electronic musicians getting ahold of (very expensive at the time) analog synthesizers and making a go at being the next Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Vangelis, or Jean-Michel Jarre. Most became obscurities as soon as they were released, but Pierre Zalkazanov did manage to receive 2 releases on the venerable Polydor label (even though he kept his day job - presumably to afford the equipment!) and had a great reputation in France - probably the most innovative country during that era. The album starts off with 3 vignettes, similar to Richard Pinhas' Chronolyse, before launching into lengthy excursions. The energy level is high, and this is the dynamic electronic music many of us crave. Excellent on the whole.

Ownership: LP: 1977 Polydor. Single sleeve. Was part of the Baltimore purchase late last year.

1/21/22 (new entry)

Zanov - Green Ray. 1976 France

This was originally a CDRWL item. Here are my notes from then, slightly updated: Sequencer based electronic musician, whose real name is Pierre Zalkazanov. Given the one man nature of the recordings, Klaus Schulze would be the obvious influence. Though musically there's just as much Tangerine Dream Stratosfear here than, say, Mirage or Blackdance. And surprisingly very little Heldon touches, given how influential Richard Pinhas was in his own country (at least when talking the underground). There were very few artists in this field during the late 1970s, while today there are hundreds, so Zanov deserves credit for being one of the pioneers. Though from a purely musical perspective, Green Ray isn't quite as well developed as his more recognized peers of the day. All the same, always nice to hear those fat analog synths battle it out on tape!

Ownership: LP: 2018 Wah Wah (Spain). It had been my intention to buy this on CD, once Groove had reissued it (2016). But unfortunately no one brings their CDs to these shores, and the Dutch postage is equal to the cost of the product! So while waiting for a reasonably priced copy to show up, in comes the LP reissue at a bargain price, which was licensed from Groove. It's a wonderful package, with an extensive biography from Zanov himself. The LP comes with an additional 45, one side of which is unreleased until now. 'Zephyr' is also a bonus track on the Groove CD. Electronic music is usually the last place I would buy an LP reissue, but there's always exceptions.

5/26/10 (CDRWL); 5/12/20 (new entry)

Zanov - Virtual Future. 2014 France

Welcome back Pierre Salkazanov (aka Zalkazanov)! If the digipak cover is any indication, it appears Zanov rediscovered his old analog keyboard toys and picked up right where he left off with In Course of Time. It's as if he walked into the basement, saw the massive equipment, and said "Hmmm... let's see if these things still work, shall we. Oh great - they do." This is old fashioned, all-fat-analog instrumental 70s sequencer based synthesizer heaven. Somewhere between Klaus Schulze's Timewind and Richard Pinhas' Iceland is the sound of Virtual Future. As if the Egg label is still with us, and we've been transported back 35 years. Even though there are a myriad of homegrown electronic artists today, it's refreshing to hear how the old masters used to do it. I can listen to this kind of elektronik musik all day.

CD: 2014 private

11/5/14 (new entry)

Mike's Top 30 Unreissued Titles (Part 5 of 6)

21. Jukka Hauru - Information (Reissued by Lipposen Levy Ja Kasetti 2021)

Finnish guitarist with a Jimi Hendrix complex, like many guitarists had worldwide in the early 70s and perhaps half of his debut album has the overshadowing influence during some high energy workouts. The other half ranges between more songwriter oriented spots and some zanier moments, all of which manage to create an "in hold" dynamic that makes the guitar freak outs even more powerful when they show up. My review can be found here.

22. Peter Frohmader - Jules Verne Cycle

The Jules Verne this most reminds me of is 20,000 Leagues under the Sea due to a prevalance of bubbling synths. As I mentioned before with Orakel/Tiefe, this is one of the Auricle cassette releases and a mighty fine one at that, with an amazingly huge sound for the format, layered electronics and some great pulses moving it all forwars. It reminds me that the finest thing about Frohmader during so much of his early work is this great sense of science fictional imagination, one that never manifests as something geeky so much as mysterious, unusual and evocative. Often this one surpasses Orakel/Tiefe for me, depending on mood.

23. Limbus 3 - Cosmic Music Experience

A free music ensemble better known for the Ohr label album Mandalas (by Limbus 4), I've always preferred the earlier work due to its more vast atmosphere and instrumental panorama. Something of a precursor of bands like Aktuala, Between and the like, in this case the same-period albums by Don Cherry might also be a reference although like Mandalas, it doesn't have much in the way of jazz chops. Just a lot of drumming, droning, and varying noises by all sorts of instruments, none of them played particularly splendid, but nonetheless a beautiful chaos does arise from the collaboration. For now only a Germanofon bootleg seems to exist (and it's actually one of the better ones soundwise).

24. Zanov - Green Ray (Reissued by Groove Unlimited 2016)

Debut album by French synthesist who manages to create a Berlin inspired electronic album with some of the thickest analog sounds on record thanks to the ARP 2600, VCS3 and the like. IIRC the Green Ray's one of those theosophy inspired ideas and a Jules Verne book, all named from the solar phenomenon where the sun temporarily gets a green flash around it during sunset or sunrise. This differs from the usual Berliner style by the sequences being fairly slight for the most part and for an unusual dark atmosphere to it. Similar in ways to Wolfgang Bock Cycles when it's not in Moondawn mode.

25. Mars Everywhere - Industrial Sabotage

Review here. Great US mix of space rock and electronic tendencies and their prime effort.