Zu + Earthmass + Meadows
Experimental Trio from Rome, carving heavy math-rock with drums, bass and baritone saxophone.
Ambition, aspiration and deep soulful explorations are crucial for Zu, who have been broadly questioning and evolving their musical identity for almost two decades, developing their musical vocabulary with every release and collaboration, never allowing their personal and creative freedom to be suffocated by imposed structures and labels.
For their new album, Jhator, Zu turn to ancient Tibetan funeral practice as their starting point, and much like the practice itself, it can be seen as the beginning of a new journey in a different form. Ancient Egyptian texts, and specifically those unlocked in the book The Dawning Moon of the Mind also inform the direction of the album. The band remarks, “in making this album we have tried to affirm life, beauty and mystery. We refocus the vision in another direction far from the Western point of view.
Distinguished by two striking extended pieces, the first side ruminates on the three stages of a sky burial, reaching the final part where the soul begins to travel. Created in the spirit of this quote by Peter Christopherson, “as long as I can remember, I've approached music from a visual point of view. Any technique that you can apply to a film, you can also apply to a piece of music.” Zu also begin with a filmic starting point, and their vision then slowly revolves into the second piece where acoustic, organic instrumentation and vocals represent for them a soul stripped of worldly attributes, as one begins ones travels into the beyond.
Jhator could be the beginning of a new musical direction for Zu, or perhaps an isolated album capturing a particular essence, or a rite of passage, however their journey unfolds, may it continue to do so for years to come.
New Album Promo Video
www.houseofmythology.com
EARTHMASS
http://earthmassband.co.uk
MEADOWS
"There are few more exciting and completely unrestrained live bands in the UK than East Anglia's Meadows. When you're not quite sure where the mosh ends and the stage begins; when the lighting rig gets headbutted and the sound engineer looks momentarily terrified as half of the PA system very nearly topples on the front row, you know you're doing something right." - Metal Hammer
https://meadows1.bandcamp.com
Tickets £8 / £7 concessions.
Doors open 7.30pm.
