Message | I will not ever forget first hearing Univers Zero. In 1984, my girlfriend borrowed an album from her aunt who ran a record store. The album was not selling, but they thought that Crawling Wind was something very important. She let me hear it . . . on vinyl at 33 1/3 RPM. (It was meant to be played at 45 RPM.) I was overwhelmed.
Like many fans of Univers Zero, I was exposed to musical possibilities that made music worthwhile . . . not mundane. Musicianship became artistic, and not a skill. I started to demand so much more of myself as a musician, and as a person.
Alas, my girlfriend had to return the album, and we later broke up. I remember thinking that my link to this record had disappeared as no record store in the area would even consider looking for a copy for me. Luckily, a friend spotted a vinyl copy in a used record bin some years later.
I still played it at 33 1/3, ignorant of my mistake. Upon hearing it on CD after the Cuneiform re-release, I realized my error . . . but still prefer it at the slower pace.
Soon, Ives, Zappa, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Bartok, Shudder to Think became standard musical fare for me. I was at a loss when confronted by people who did not hear the musicality of the work.
There is something very important about this band and the tradition of demanding quality and expression they have created and take part in.
I am very grateful for their work.
Chris Cronin |