b r a n d o n

1313 was Univers Zero's first release, and has a kind of primitive feel to it - perhaps because the music is very sparse and almost entirely acoustic. Violins and other stringed instruments intertwine their staccato notes with bassoon and guitar to create a slow-moving, foreboding soundscape that, aside from Daniel Denis' drumming, has as much in common with modern chamber music than it does rock music. Denis' drumming, speaking of which, is way forward in the mix (much higher than in subsequent releases) and adds a lot of tension and aggression to the music. There are a lot of martial-sounding rhythms egging the compositions on. Edgy stuff. Overall I find that 1313 is the most difficult of Univers Zero albums for me to really get into. The sparseness of sound makes for a lack of intensity that later albums are not burdened by. Nevertheless, it's still a fairly good album, and fans of chamber-rock in the Art Zoyd tradition, or those that specifically hunt down anything with a heavy Bartok influence, will be in for a good time. review by Brandon Wu — 8-1-00 —