Search - Univers Zero :: Live

Univers Infiniti

Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 02/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There aren't enough stars in the heavens to express my pleasure with this release. UZero has been one of my favorite bands for about 25 years now -- and this is their first ever live album -- and this version of the band is the tightest, most powerful, most visceral, most focussed music they've ever done -- and the sound on this recording is simply unbelievable. The balance is so pristine that every nuance stands out in high relief.



Uzed's music, if you're not familiar with it, is a unique mix of jazz-like elements in a hard-rock shell. By using a lot of minor chords and off-kilter rhythms they create a driving, slightly dangerous-sounding juggernaut which, paradoxically, displays great beauty and delicacy in its intricate interplay. Instrumentation consists of oboe/bassoon, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, bass, keyboards and the genius drumming of leader Daniel Denis, who doesn't so much keep time as stoke the boiler.



It may sound trite to say, but this is the record Univers Zero has been dreaming of making since 1977."

Comment of Live record of Univers Zero

Jose Alejandro Barreiro | 09/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Excelent record! All magic of Univers Zero's music is present in this disc.



Regards



José Alejandro Barreiro"

Vivid Chamber-rock

Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 07/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Univers Zero is Belgian chamber-rock (for lack of a better term) band that comprises Michel Berckmans on oboe, English horn, bassoon, and melodica; Kurt Budé on clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor saxophone; Daniel Denis on drums and percussion; Martin Lauwers on violin; Eric Plantain on electric bass; and Peter Van Den Berghe on keyboards. This recording, which is derived from concerts the group made in Belgium and France, is quite vivid and full-range, with a surprising amount of bass power. These guys can fill quite a large chamber with sound, so perhaps it would be better to describe them as a chamber-stadium-progressive-classical-metal-acoustic-rock band.



Interestingly, given the employment of classical-type instruments and sound patterns in the arrangements, all the music was composed by Daniel Denis, the drummer, who plays in a decidedly heavy fusion-rock style. Readers who may have decided from what I have written so far that this recording must be some sort of Spinal Tap put-on need to keep an open mind. This is actually quite an enjoyable concert recording, as these guys can really play and their music is full of energy, color, and power, as is the recorded sound. For those who like their chamber-rock music on the spectacular side, Univers Zero definitely delivers the goods."