Univers Zero

[chalkpie]

Is that the famous grated reverb effect?

Yes, and it's very cheesy.

You guys are making me hungry.

[Zeuhlmate]

2 reviews of Lueur

http://universzero.dk/news.htm

[Steve F.]

2 reviews of Lueur

http://universzero.dk/news.htm

Exist long enough and even The Wire can find room to ‘consider’ you….

[Mascodagama]

Exist long enough and even The Wire can find room to ‘consider’ you….

Good of them isn't it?

Actually not that bad a piece, much as I might disdain their publication. Though there are several things to disagree with.

[calyx]

Actually not that bad a piece, much as I might disdain their publication. Though there are several things to disagree with.

Like using a photo of the 2009-2012 line-up, only two of whom appear on the album (Daniel and Kurt)... And ignoring the obvious fact that the new album is NOT the work of an active band, but of Daniel Denis with occasional support from other musicians.

[Mr.Krautman]

Like using a photo of the 2009-2012 line-up, only two of whom appear on the album (Daniel and Kurt)... And ignoring the obvious fact that the new album is NOT the work of an active band, but of Daniel Denis with occasional support from other musicians.

Where is that really different from their 10 previous albums ? D.D allways was the mastermind (and main composer) of U.Z, "helped" by various musicians he selected. Same for MAGMA (C.Vander)

[Czyszy]

The name Univers Zero is similar to Univeria Zekt. Does anybody know for a fact if that was intentional? From what I've read Denis and Vander knew each other.

[Mr.Krautman]

The name Univers Zero is similar to Univeria Zekt. Does anybody know for a fact if that was intentional? From what I've read Denis and Vander knew each other.

Univeria Zekt predates the 1st Univers Zero record/formation , thus it could be a possible source of inspiration for the name. We'll never know for sure...
And yes, Daniel Denis played (toured) briefly with MAGMA at an early stage (MDK period) and the two drummers knew each other very well. But two ego-inflated musicians in the same band was one too much and D.D left after a short while... (or was fired ?)

[Trane]

Univeria Zekt predates the 1st Univers Zero record/formation , thus it could be a possible source of inspiration for the name. We'll never know for sure...
And yes, Daniel Denis played (toured) briefly with MAGMA at an early stage (MDK period) and the two drummers knew each other very well. But two ego-inflated musicians in the same band was one too much and D.D left after a short while... (or was fired ?)

Some 10 or 12 years, Magma was playing l'Orangerie at Le Bota, when Vander broke his snare drum, he called upon Daniel if he was in the attendance to see if he (DD) had a snare drum handy to loan. Daniel wasn't in the audience and there was no way he would've returned home (60km return trip) to fetch a drum within acceptable delay for the concert to go on.

Can't remember how that issue was solved. I can't imagine a place like Le Bota not having some spare instruments somewhere in a basement.

[calyx]

Where is that really different from their 10 previous albums ? D.D allways was the mastermind (and main composer) of U.Z, "helped" by various musicians he selected. Same for MAGMA (C.Vander)

Well, I strongly disagree in both cases. Firstly, both Magma and UZ were originally collectives where other members alongside the drummer (and future leader) wrote music. Roger Trigaux was co-leader in UZ until he left in '79, and Cahen and Lasry were important composers in Magma until they left in '72. Later in Magma's existence there were phases of co-leadership with Jannick Top. And even in later UZ line-ups people like Andy Kirk wrote a large chunk of the music.

After UZ ceased to exist as a band in 1987, and after DD's two solo albums, there was indeed a phase that matched your description, although it can be argued that Michel Berckmans had something akin to a co-leader role.

But between 2004 and 2014 (or 2015), UZ was a band, with band members contributing material and, more importantly, recording their albums (two, in this case) *as a band*, not just overdubbing parts onto an existing canvas of Daniel's keyboards and percussion.

[Zeuhlmate]

Renato and I are working on an interview with DD. When finished it will be published here http://universzero.dk/

[Steve F.]

After UZ ceased to exist as a band in 1987, and after DD's two solo albums, there was indeed a phase that matched your description, although it can be argued that Michel Berckmans had something akin to a co-leader role.

My understanding is that Michel did a lot of the musical arrangements for the 'second period' of UZ, so he was certainly not just putting down notes written out for him.

But between 2004 and 2014 (or 2015), UZ was a band, with band members contributing material and, more importantly, recording their albums (two, in this case) *as a band*, not just overdubbing parts onto an existing canvas of Daniel's keyboards and percussion.

Two studio + the significant (imo) Live album

[Udi Koomran]

This sort of scenario were at one point a band that was collective effort transforms to one member becoming dominant and asserting his reign taking all composition duty and a group of semi hired/selected musicians are nothing more then players
Usually the initial dynamics and friction creates a more diverse and “genuine” result
Were the later days dominated by a sole composer turns into a refined formula that slowly starts to lose intensity originality and risk taking

examples - Pink Floyd
King Crimson
Magma
Universe Zero
Thinking Plague
Tracktor’s Revenge

[Kcrimso]

This sort of scenario were at one point a band that was collective effort transforms to one member becoming dominant and asserting his reign taking all composition duty and a group of semi hired/selected musicians are nothing more then players
Usually the initial dynamics and friction creates a more diverse and “genuine” result
Were the later days dominated by a sole composer turns into a refined formula that slowly starts to lose intensity originality and risk taking

examples - Pink Floyd
King Crimson
Magma
Universe Zero
Thinking Plague
Tracktor’s Revenge

I don't think King Crimson ever turned to band with one sole composer. Of course Fripp dominated the last years of the band but at that point they were not actively making new music anymore.

[NogbadTheBad]

I don't think King Crimson never turned to band with one sole composer. Of course Fripp dominated the last years of the band but at that point they were not actively making new music anymore.

Agreed, Belew was certainly involved heavily up to the point he was no longer in the band & the only 'new' stuff since then is on live albums.

The current version of 'Jethro Tull' is pretty much Anderson and hired guns ever since Martin Barre was sacked, right?

Supertramp weren't the same after Roger Hodgson left though I didn't like the last album he was on. Rick Davies did one good album, Brother Where You Bound, but after that pretty weak.

[Trane]

Purely from memory, the songwriting credits on a few albums don't show DD as the "main composer"

Supertramp weren't the same after Roger Hodgson left though I didn't like the last album he was on. Rick Davies did one good album, Brother Where You Bound, but after that pretty weak.

Yeah, it's quite strange that Hodgson's first solo album was rather good as well (though he shows that he yearns for the band via his lyrics, while the band doesn't seem to miss him on Brother), but the next one stunk. The 80 & 00's albums are just very average on both sides of the equation.

Brother WYB was a very angry album and very political album too and somewhat approached Roger Waters' solo productions (incl TFC)

[Zeuhlmate]

Credits are a mix, like
http://universzero.dk/albums/1313.htm
http://universzero.dk/albums/heresie.htm
Credits: Denis and Trigaux
http://universzero.dk/albums/ceux.htm
Credits: Denis, Kirk & Segers
http://universzero.dk/albums/uzed.htm
Credits: Denis.
http://universzero.dk/albums/hardquest.htm
All compositions by DENIS, except 8, 9 and 12 by BERCKMANS

etc.

[Zeuhlmate]

New Interview (March 2024) with Daniel Denis http://universzero.dk/interviews.htm (both French and English)

[David_D]

I'm not a big aficionado of Univers Zero, but I'm quite fond of Clivages.

[Zeuhlmate]

I'm not a big aficionado of Univers Zero, but I'm quite fond of Clivages.

Then you would propably also like Phosphorescent Dreams.

[David_D]

Then you would propably also like Phosphorescent Dreams.

thanks

[Zeuhlmate]

Christian GENET - Performances (released February 2, 1997)

https://guysegers1.bandcamp.com/albu...-25-full-album

[Steve F.]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

It (like nearly everything else on his BandCamp page) is not Guy's to be selling. Just sayin'.

[The Czar]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

It (like nearly everything else on his BandCamp page) is not Guy's to be selling. Just sayin'.

Isn't it on Carbon 7? I assumed that he would have some ownership of those releases?

[Zeuhlmate]

Isn't it on Carbon 7? I assumed that he would have some ownership of those releases?

I assumed too with this one, since you can buy the physical disc, but Guy is not treading carefully.
Daniel Denis is not happy.