Zeuhl

Zeuhl (pronounced [tsɔɪl] or [d͡zøːl]) means celestial in Kobaïan,[1] the constructed language created by Christian Vander of the band Magma.[2] Originally solely applied to the music of Magma, the term "zeuhl" was eventually used to describe the similar music produced by French bands,[3] beginning in the mid-1970s. Although primarily a French phenomenon, zeuhl has influenced recent avant-garde Japanese bands.[4]

Zeuhl typically blends progressive rock, symphonic rock, fusion, neoclassicism, avant-rock, and vocal elements of African-American spirituals and Western military call and response. Common aspects include dissonance, marching themes, throbbing bass, keyboards including piano, Rhodes piano or organ, and brass instruments. Zeuhl shares much in common with the Rock in Opposition movement, and many bands have participated in RIO festivals.

“ [Z]euhl sounds like, well, about what you'd expect an alien rock opera to sound like: massed, chanted choral motifs, martial, repetitive percussion, sudden bursts of explosive improv and just as unexpected lapses into eerie, minimalist trance-rock ”

—Dominique Leone, review[5] of Magma's 2004 album K.A. on Pitchfork Media

References

  1. ↑ Stump, Paul (July 1995). "Different Drummer: Magma – interview with Christian Vander, page 3". The Wire. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  2. ↑ Culshaw, Peter (1 October 2009). "Magma interview for Celestial Mass". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  3. ↑ Buckley, Peter (2003). The rough guide to rock. Rough Guides. pp. 629–630. ISBN 1-84353-105-4.
  4. ↑ "Magma: Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh". Tiny Mix Tapes. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  5. ↑ "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Magma: K.A". Retrieved 2010-02-08.