No Zu
Life
13 Track, LP (2012, Sensory Projects)
Related: No Zu.
This is a busy album. Hectic even. The debut from Melbourne's No Zu at times seems like an overturned buffet cart of post-punk and no wave percussion punctuated by yelping vocals, bold brass and a hyper approach to song structure. At first it's all a bit too much – what I imagine a Victorian College of the Arts party turns into at 2 am – but on further listen the sound collages and carnival nature of the music is actually a lot of fun. From funk to house and dub to slinky global music rhythms, everything leads to the dance floor. Yeah, there's a lot of floor tom going on. But then, there's a lot of everything going on.
NO ZU - Emotion by sensoryprojects10
No Zu is essentially the work of percussionist Nicolaas Oogjes, who, along with his former TTT bandmate Adrian Vecino and friends from bands such as Rat Vs Possum, has produced an album blasting with colour. I hate to say the word “kaleidoscope,” but the music is all bright prisms and kinetic energy. 'Prstn F'ever' is an exotic 30-second celebration of one of Melbourne's less exotic inner-northern suburbs. This leads into the album’s strongest track, 'Emotion', which could be lifted off Grace Jones’ ‘Warm Leatherette’, itself a song that brings to mind high cheek bones and white sand. Indeed, that's what makes Life so interesting and frantic. An instrumental ode to Preston and then the recording and production of Oogjes and Nao Anzai (Rat Vs Possum, City City City, Laura), which sounds like it could come from Compass Point.
NO ZU - Fa Foma Fi by sensoryprojects10
Like Jordan Dolheguy’s Miami Vice-by-way-of-Picasso album art – all wine-cooler pink and peach – the songs burst out with a mind fuck/funk. The vocal delays and steel drums on 'Fa Foma Fi' bring to mind a Trenchtown version of Holy Fuck, while ‘Bust Body Move’ is both a song title and a directive. Detractors – including many of my friends – will lump Life in with “hippy poncho music.” But the fact is, the album is weirdly hypnotic and a strange beast of multitasking dance music.
by Tim Scott
– My Disco are the only Australian band included on a limited-edition …
– Art-funk ensemble NO ZU will launch their debut album Life (cover ar…
What: Life by NO ZU.
When: August 31 through Sensory Projects.
K…
I saw 'Emotion' on Rage yesterday morning - came into it maybe half way through? - and had to go online and find out who it was by, it was amazing! I can't remember the last time I did that, if ever. VCA party indeed.
Also, just a note to self and everyone, I see TS is describing Preston as an inner-north suburb ('less exotic' notwithstanding). Ten years ago it would have been described as an outer north suburb - actually five years ago - actually some people probably still do describe it that way. Has the word 'inner' lost its original meaning, no longer describing geographical relation to the CBD but instead some kind of state of mind (i,e. 'inner' = 'I know people there')?
Yeah David, exactly the same thing has happened in Sydney, the media (particularly the SMH) now considers Strathfield as ''Inner West'', when 10 years ago any train station west of Newtown would have been ''Western Suburbs''.
Anyway, back to the No Zu record...
When I lived in Sydney, 1984-95, Strathfield might as well have been Milperra as far as the inner city elites, of which I was one, were concerned.
No-one seems inclined to discuss it. That clip is incredible. Though now I come to think of it, perhaps another example of 'othering'. Freaks on the fringe, etc - as far as the video is concerned.
surprised to like what i've heard of the record. live they've consistently made me want to leave the band room immediately.
Been following these guys since the Graffiti ep back in 2010 and it's been nice seeing them morph into what they are now. Really dig the whole suburban oddball aesthetic too - although I know some hate it, guess that's inevitable. Enjoying Life a lot as well but not sure that the percussive, post-punk-funk sound will sustain for another album, but the shape-shifting nature of the band suggests that they'll develop beyond it, while I'm sure still keeping their eyes on the dancefloor.
Just saw the clip for Emotion on rage. Fantastic. I'm going to have to get the album I think.
this record sounds cool and all and i enjoy listening to it but i can't help but feel the personality of their older stuff has gone by the wayside. maybe this is a roundabout way of saying the vocals are too quiet or something idk