univers zero

Belgian band Univers Zero started out in 1974. They are a founding member of the original 'Rock In Opposition' [R.I.O.] movement and the inventor of 'chamber rock'. Univers Zero released 6 albums before the band broke up in 1987. Leader Daniel Denis reformed the band in 1997. Since 2004, the band has been touring again, resulting in a live album in 2006.. In 2006 they released their first-ever live recording, "Live", and an archival release of unheard late 80s recordings, "Relaps", followed in 2008.  July 2015, the band performed at Zappanale. They included Frank Zappa's 'King Kong' in their setlist for the occasion. The picture on the right was taken at Zappanale. Antoine Guenet: keyboards Daniel Denis: drums Nicolas Dechêne: guitar Dimitry Evers: bass Kurt Budé: clarinet, sax

web-site

http://univers-zero.com/

discography

Univers Zero was founded in 1974. It evolved out of Necromicon, a group founded by legendary drummer/ percussionist Daniel Denis and trumpet player Claude Deron and named after a locale in H. P. Lovecraft’s work. By May 1974, desiring to celebrate its European roots, the band had renamed itself Univers Zero, after a novel by Belgian writer Jacques Sternberg. During its first five years, under the co-leadership of composers Daniel Denis and Roger Trigaux (also the group’s guitarist), Univers Zero utilized a mixture of primarily acoustic classical and rock instrumentation to record 2 albums.  In 1979, Trigaux left the band to found Present, and Univers Zero continued on with Denis at the helm. During the 1980s, Univers Zero was without question one of the most adventurous bands on the international rock scene. Distinctive but never stagnant, Univers Zero’s sound evolved and progressed with each of several new lineups during this decade. Their releases during this time show new experimentation with electronic elements such as samples, and integration of more electric instruments (keyboards and a more prominent electric guitar) into its sonic mix, producing a bolder and more ‘contemporary’ sound that was as sophisticated as it was emotive. In 1987 UZ released Heatwave, its first record on Cuneiform Records, beginning a long-term relationship with the label.

Shortly after the Heatwave release, Denis disbanded Univers Zero for a decade. During the 1990s and very early 2000s, Cuneiform reissued Univers Zero’s entire back catalogue on CD. The music proved timeless; the reissues received an astounding amount of critical acclaim and helped expand the band’s fan base worldwide. With UZ dormant, Denis released two solo albums – Les  Eaux  Troubles (1991) and  Sirius  and   the  Ghost  (1993) – in the US (Cuneiform) and Europe (Musea). As the decade drew to a close, he reformed Univers Zero for a single, sold out appearance at 1997’s FIMAV (Festival International Musique Actuelle Victoriaville) in Canada.

Denis revived UZ at the close of the 20^th Century, and proceeded to release a series of recordings that thrilled rock and New Music/classical audiences alike. UZ expanded their acoustic palette with electronics, experimental and jazz elements, and more spacious, melodic compositions for its next, 9^th CD, Implosion, released in 2004. AMG noted that “UZ has been producing dark-side chamber music for thirty years, and ‘Implosion’ shows that they’ve not lost their focus or fire.” Implosion’s cover was designed by Belgian filmmaker Philippe Seynaeve, who had begun working on various multimedia projects with the band, one of which was featured at the 2003 Belgian Film Festival at Paris’ Forum des Images.

Univers Zero returned to live performance in 2004 when it celebrated its 30^th anniversary. Accompanied by videos/films designed by Seynaeve, Univers Zero has since performed (often headlining) at many of the world’s most prestigious festivals of New Music, world music, progressive music, and jazz. In recent years, Univers Zero has played in the Czech Republic (Alternativa Festival 2006) France (MIMI Festival 2004;  Les Tritonales 2004, 2005, 2007; Winter Festival Le Garric 2005),  Germany (Art Rock/ Freakshow Festival, 2004), Mexico (Baja Prog Festival 2007  Portugal (Gouevia Artrock Festival 2005), and the USA (NEARfest 2004, The Netherlands (Music Meeting Festival-2004). It has also played numerous recent shows in Belgium, and at Brussells’ Les  Halles  De  Schaerbeek, Hasselt’ Belgie Kunstcentrum, Mouscron’s Centre  Culturel  M.  Staquet, La Louvière’s Théatre Communal De La Louvière, Verviers’ Spirit of 66, Courcelles’ Centre Culturel “La Posterie” 2008, Saint-Gilles’ Centre Culturel Jacques Francq, and festivals at Bruxelles Chapelle Station, Audi Jazz Festival, Prog Festival, and Le Festival des Musiques Progressives de Montreal, in Canada.

Three decades after it was first formed, Univers Zero continues to evolve, continually expanding and experimenting with the boundaries of New Music, and, to quote Exposé, ceaselessly “proving themselves to be one of the best and most important groups on the planet.”

2010/02/06 Univers Zero - concert 'Centre Culturel Jaques Franck', Brussels, Belgium