|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LP
|
|
SUBSOUND 047LTD
|
For over 15 years, Zu's modus operandi of straddling and abusing musical genres has resulted in over fifteen unique album releases across labels such as Ipecac, Atavistic and Headz (Japan). Their experimental amalgam of metal, math, no-wave, noise and electronics, led acclaimed composer John Zorn to describe their sound as "a powerful and expressive music that totally blows away what most bands do these days." In the running for the title of "the world's hardest working band," Zu have performed over 1000 shows throughout Europe, US, Canada, Asia, Russia, Mexico and even Africa, touring with the like of Mike Patton (as the Zu/Patton Quartet), also sharing the stage with Faith No More, Fantômas, The Melvins, Lightning Bolt, Sonic Youth, The Ex, and countless others. They have also collaborated with a vast number of musicians including Mike Patton, The Melvins, Dälek, Jim O' Rourke, FM Einheit (Einsturzende Neubauten), Peter Brötzmann, Nobukazu Takemura, Eugene Robinson (Oxbow), Steve MacKay (The Stooges), The Ex, Thurston Moore, Stephen O Malley, Damo Suzuki (Can), Mats Gustafsson, NoMeansNo, and Joe Lally (Fugazi). Carboniferous is their masterpiece. Originally released on Ipecac in 2009, it includes collaborations with Mike Patton, King Buzzo, and Giulio Ragno Favero.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
SUBSOUND 137LP
|
In January 1999, after years of continuous daily rehearsals, Zu entered the studio to record Bromio. The album was released in October of the same year to immediate and enthusiastic feedback from the press and the public, and a few months later Zu began to play on stages all over Europe. But the band's inexperience in recording work weighed on them, because the impact they had live was not present in the sound of the CD at all. So it was that during the slightly forced hiatus from 2020 onwards, they finally found the time to reopen those recordings, rework them in various ways, resonate some parts and release Bromio 25 years later in a sound that was much closer to the impact and sound system of their live performances. Listening to it again 25 years later, it still sounds fresh and vibrant, not tied to any predetermined genre or fashion of the moment (it is curious and almost comical that they were called "jazzcore" when in fact the basis of their sound drew much more from prog and metal). Enjoy!
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
SUBSOUND 137LTD
|
Color vinyl version. In January 1999, after years of continuous daily rehearsals, Zu entered the studio to record Bromio. The album was released in October of the same year to immediate and enthusiastic feedback from the press and the public, and a few months later Zu began to play on stages all over Europe. But the band's inexperience in recording work weighed on them, because the impact they had live was not present in the sound of the CD at all. So it was that during the slightly forced hiatus from 2020 onwards, they finally found the time to reopen those recordings, rework them in various ways, resonate some parts and release Bromio 25 years later in a sound that was much closer to the impact and sound system of their live performances. Listening to it again 25 years later, it still sounds fresh and vibrant, not tied to any predetermined genre or fashion of the moment (it is curious and almost comical that they were called "jazzcore" when in fact the basis of their sound drew much more from prog and metal). Enjoy!
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
SUBSOUND 127LP
|
Since 1995, orphaned by their previous project, the three founding members of Zu (Jacopo Battaglia, Luca Mai, and Massimo Pupillo) had been hanging out in the historic small room in Piazza Degli Zingari in Rome, every day, all day long, working nights and sometimes sleeping directly in the basement so as not to waste time. Looking for their own voice, without excluding any direction: electronics, tapes, sequencer cello (played by their friend Francesco Chiari), and of course their first iconoclastic outbursts on bass sax and drums. One can obviously hear the shared love for NoMeansNo and Ruins, but much more was already part of Zu's DNA, including an instinctive ability to digest the myriad listens and influences that permeated them, without ever copying anything but transforming everything into their own personal voice. After about two years of intense and continuous rehearsals, this tape was the first demo they sent out, recorded in that room by their friend Giampaolo Felici, with whom they shared that space and with whom years later they would also found Ardecore. The cassette went around so much that the Zu themselves could not find a single copy of it, until one mysteriously reappeared, intact and still perfectly listenable, which transferred and mastered became, more than 25 years later, The Lost Demo.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
SUBSOUND 127LTD
|
Color vinyl version. Since 1995, orphaned by their previous project, the three founding members of Zu (Jacopo Battaglia, Luca Mai, and Massimo Pupillo) had been hanging out in the historic small room in Piazza Degli Zingari in Rome, every day, all day long, working nights and sometimes sleeping directly in the basement so as not to waste time. Looking for their own voice, without excluding any direction: electronics, tapes, sequencer cello (played by their friend Francesco Chiari), and of course their first iconoclastic outbursts on bass sax and drums. One can obviously hear the shared love for NoMeansNo and Ruins, but much more was already part of Zu's DNA, including an instinctive ability to digest the myriad listens and influences that permeated them, without ever copying anything but transforming everything into their own personal voice. After about two years of intense and continuous rehearsals, this tape was the first demo they sent out, recorded in that room by their friend Giampaolo Felici, with whom they shared that space and with whom years later they would also found Ardecore. The cassette went around so much that the Zu themselves could not find a single copy of it, until one mysteriously reappeared, intact and still perfectly listenable, which transferred and mastered became, more than 25 years later, The Lost Demo.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
TROST 131EP
|
Limited one-sided 12". Etching on backside. Finally Zu are back, with an amazing new line-up. Full album to follow in the summer of 2014. Gabe Serbian (The Locust) (drums); Luca T. Mai (sax); Massimo Pupillo (bass); special guest on vocals: Mark "Barney" Greenway (Napalm Death).
|
|
|
|