Most Univers Zero recordings originally appeared on the small French
Atem and Cyronic labels, and were not exactly easy to obtain at the time
of their initial release. But the long out of print Crawling Wind was
recorded as an EP for Eastern Works, the Japanese division of
Recommended Records (ReR), and it has achieved a kind of cult status
over the years because of its even greater rarity. The original EP was
recorded at what was quite possibly Univers Zero's creative peak, after
their first three LPs and before they started moving away from acoustic
chamber rock and toward a sound that was a little more conventionally
electric. The three pieces on the EP (two studio recordings and one live
track) are supplemented on Cuneiform's CD reissue with two additional
live tracks, plus "Influences," a studio piece previously released only
on ReR's 1983 two-disc Rock in Opposition sampler, which featured other
iconoclastic bands/artists of the time, such as Art Bears, Faust, Henry
Cow, and Robert Wyatt. The mixture of studio and live tracks (and the
different times and places of the recordings) doesn't allow Crawling
Wind to generate quite the intensity of UZ's three prior recordings --
1313, Heresie, and Ceux Du Dehors. But with the exception of one early
track from 1979 (an alternate live version of "Complainte," which
appeared on 1313, UZ's first release), all the tracks on the Cuneiform
release were recorded from 1982-1984, and are mature examples of UZ's
unique gothic chamber rock sound, which featured a combination of
strings (violin, cello, viola), woodwinds (clarinet, bassoon, oboe), and
the powerful rhythm section of founder, leader, and primary composer
Daniel Denis on drums, and either Guy Seger or Christian Genet on bass.
Univers Zero enthusiasts will know what to expect from the studio
tracks, which project either the moody gloom of Heresie ("Before the
Heat"), or the ferocious, dissonant energy of Ceux Du Dehors ("Toujours
Plus à L'est," "Influences"). One of the two long live tracks, "Central
Belgium in the Dark" (a verbal play, at least, on 20th century classical
composer Charles Ives' "Central Park in the Dark"), represents a slight
change of pace for the band, as it is more loosely structured, with
less ensemble playing and a more playful, improvised quality that is
almost lyrical at times. "Triomphe des Mouches," while looser than a
typical UZ studio recording, is still typically heavy and relentless,
with featured cello work by Andre Mergenthaler, who uses his
instrument's upper register at times to produce strangled, human-like
cries. The three earlier Univers Zero reissues can probably be
considered more essential than Crawling Wind, but this CD definitely
transcends the "for completists only" category, and is a worthy addition
to Cuneiform's fine catalog of UZ reissues. William Tilland
Tracklist :
1. Toujours Plus À L'Est 5:34
Composed By – Daniel Denis
2. Before The Heat 4:06
Composed By – Andy Kirk
3. Central Belgium In The Dark 9:54
Composed By – Univers Zéro
4. Influences 7:36
Composed By – Andy Kirk
Bass – Guy Segers
Clarinet – Dirk Descheemaeker
Drums – Daniel Denis
Keyboards, Guitar – Andy Kirk
Recorded By – Eric Faes
Violin – Alan Ward
5. Triomphe Des Mouches 9:55
Composed By – Andy Kirk / Daniel Denis
Bass – Christian Genet
Cello – André Mergenthaler
Clarinet, Synthesizer [Casio] – Dirk Descheemaeker
Drums – Daniel Denis
Keyboards – Jean-Luc Plouvier
6. Complainte 5:29
Composed By – Daniel Denis
Guitar – Roger Trigaux
Harmonium – Daniel Denis
Oboe, Bassoon – Michel Berckmans
Percussion – Guy Segers
Viola – Patrick Hanappier
Credits :
Bass, Voice, Violin, Other [Invisible Talk, Flies Talk] – Guy Segers (tracks: 1 to 3)
Clarinet – Dirk Descheemaeker (tracks: 1 to 3)
Drums, Percussion, Voice, Violin – Daniel Denis (tracks: 1 to 3)
Piano, Organ, Synth, Voice, Viola, Musical Box [Music Box], Percussion, Harmonium, Electronics [Radio] – Andy Kirk (tracks: 1 to 3)
Violin – Alan Ward (tracks: 1 to 3).jpg)
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