Univers Zero

Produced in 1974, Belgium-based chamber rock-band Univers Zero initially highlighted co-composers drummer Daniel Denis and guitarist Roger Trigaux joined up with by bassoonist Michel Berckmans, violinist Marcel Dufrane, bassist Christian Genet, violinist/violist Patrick Hanappier, and harmonium/spinet player Emmanuel Nicaise. The avant-prog group, among the initial Rock and roll in Opposition rings along with Britain’s Henry Cow, Sweden’s Samla Mammas Manna, Italy’s Stormy Six, and France’s Etron Fou Leloublan, released its initial record, 1313, in 1977. Univers No immediately started their background of personnel adjustments using the 1979 follow-up LP Heresie, a relentlessly dark work recorded with the quintet development of Denis, Trigaux, Berckmans, Hanappier, and bassist Man Segers, who (at least momentarily) replace Genet. In 1980, Trigaux still left to begin a fresh musical undertaking, Present. Undaunted, the group continuing on, adding keyboardist/composer Andy Kirk and launching the landmark Ceux du Dehors in 1981. 2 yrs later, Univers No released the Crawling Blowing wind EP (which Cuneiform reissued with reward monitors in 2001), having added clarinetist Dirk Descheemaeker and violinist Alan Ward towards the fold following departures of Berckmans and Hanappier. Another year saw the discharge of Uzed, which signaled a changeover toward more digital instrumentation and a good relatively fusion-oriented sound. Keyboardist Jean-Luc Plouvier acquired changed Andy Kirk on Uzed, but 2 yrs afterwards the Heatwave Compact disc highlighted a two-keyboard lineup with both Plouvier and Kirk aswell as the come back of Hanappier on violin instead of Ward, who acquired departed after just playing on Crawling Blowing wind. Bassist Christian Genet was also in the Heatwave lineup, having changed Guy Segers ahead of Uzed. Univers No split up in 1987 as Denis, right now the group’s traveling force, primary composer, and undisputed innovator, pursued a single profession, but the music group re-formed past due in the next decade, liberating The Hard Mission in 1999 and Rhythmix in 2002. With carrying on support from Cuneiform, the group released Implosion in 2004 and probably among its strongest attempts in years, Live, in early 2006, accompanied by another profession peak, Clivages, this year 2010. The latter-day edition of UZ continuing the band’s earlier habit of offering changing lineups encircling the constant existence of Denis, along with came back bassoonist Michel Berckmans. Well known additional players throughout this era included keyboardists Pierre Chevalier and Peter Vandenberghe, saxophonist/clarinetist Kurt Budé, bassists Eric Plantain and Dimitri Evers, and violinist Martin Lauwers. Nevertheless, regardless of the group’s successes on record and in live show, in 2013 Denis made the decision a comparably significant switch towards the lineup was required. Declaring that Univers Zero’s “aged type was stagnant,” he created a fresh quintet version from the music group; bassist Evers and saxophonist/clarinetist Budé from UZ’s instantly preceding incarnation would stay, but keyboardist Chevalier, violinist Lauwers, and — especially — initial bandmember bassoonist Berckmans would depart. In July 2013 the lineup of Denis, Budé, Evers, keyboardist Antoine Guenet (the incorrect Object, SH.TG.N), and guitarist Nicolas Dechêne (Turlu Tursu), in addition selected guests, entered Studio room Dingo in Soignies, Belgium to record the 13th Univers No recording, Phosphorescent Dreams. Featuring composing credits break up between Denis and Budé, the recording premiered by japan Arcangelo label in Feb 2014, 40 years following the group’s preliminary founding.