von Zamla - 1983
Cuneiform Records  (1999)
RIO

In Collection

7*
CD  64:10
13 tracks
   01   Ten Tango       1980 UK       07:23
   02   Forgeetyde       1980 Danmark       04:23
   03   Harujanta       1980 USA       07:56
   04   Temporal You Are       1980 USA       05:59
   05   Antsong       1980 Finland       05:34
   06   Fur Munju/Indojazz       1978 Australia       04:46
   07   Glassmusic       1979 Sweden       01:00
   08   Rainbox       1981 USA       03:11
   09   Doppler       1979 UK       07:57
   10   Akarondo       Dr. Fink And The Mystery Band Help, Ticket To Ride, Day Tripper, Paperback Writer, Got To Get You Into My Life       02:48
   11   Dancing Madras       Toto Coelo       00:30
   12   Clandestine       De Barge       06:59
   13   Odet       (Bonus Track)       05:44
Personal Details
Details
Country International
Cat. Number Rune 121
Spars DDD
Sound Stereo
Notes
Sweden
Recorded Live at Bremen and Hildesheim, Germany, March 8th & 10, 1983.

review added 2-9-00
Von Zamla: 1983
Cuneiform (rune 121)
Sweden 1999

Michel Berckmans, bassoon, oboe;
Eino Haapala, guitar;
Lars Hollmer, piano, organ, korg, accordion;
Hans Loelv, piano, organ, korg, melodica;
Wolfgang Salomon, bass;
Marten Tiselius, drums

Brandon Wu:
Cuneiform, bless them, released this, recorded from two concerts in 1983, just last year. While I don't have the Von Zamla studio albums, and am thus unable to compare the versions of the songs on this live album to the originals, I've become so taken by the music that I can't resist writing a review anyway. The music on here takes whimsical, pretty melodies and arranges them in complex and novel ways. The addition of Michel Berckmans' wind instruments to the mix is something that really does it for me - I'm a sucker that little touch of Univers Zero's sound. Berckmans is no guest artist here, either - in many songs he takes center stage, and in fact the disc opens with a slow, thoughtful oboe melody, then a fugue-like section on piano, guitar, and bassoon. The ensemble overall is tight and focused, the arrangements are very interesting (and differ greatly from the studio versions from what I hear), and the compositions are pretty good. I've been told that it's very difficult to go wrong with the Samla family of bands, and so far this has been true for me. Definitely a worthy release, for RIO fans as well as those that like more accessible music - there are plenty of great melodies here.