Zool. – The Time Remaining (Album – Belgian NeuMusik / Wool-E Discs)
Genre/Influences: Ambient, Cinematic.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/info: behind Zool. is hiding a legendary Belgian musician. Gerry Vergult aka ‘Fred Angst’ received some fame with the Belgian Post-Punk formation Aroma Di Amore, but is also active for numerous years now under the Zool. moniker. His new work released by the end of 2021 is ‘chapter 40’ in the Belgian Neumusik series.
Content: The fifth full length by Zool. is a personal interpretation of ambient music. The work reminds us that there’s not just one Ambient style, but every single artist simply gives his own interpretation of Ambient. Gerry Vergult plays the guitar creating a dreamy, but also dark and mysterious universe. The songs have been achieved with electronic treatments and piano while you now and then will notice downtempo rhythms.
+ + + : The guitar playing is an essential element in the composition of this album. It injects a true spirit to the composition, switching from dark reverie into psychedelia. It feels like an invitation to close your eyes and embark for an imaginary trip created by Zool. The atmosphere sometimes becomes a bit hostile and yet it remains relaxing. “Melocoton” is a brilliant exposure to this work. I also must mention “Black Trap”, which is slowly evolving into another cold trip. The last cut “Wasteland” sounds as a mysterious final to this great production.
– – – : I definitely prefer the darker side of the work, which is also walking on a few sweet and dreamy paths.
Conclusion: The main strength of this Belgian Neumusik series is to make us familiar with the rather unknown, but talented Belgian Ambient composers. Zool. definitely is one of the artists you’ve to discover.
Best songs: “Melocoton”, “Black Trap”, “Hampstead”, “The Time Remaining”.
Rate: 8.
Listen to “The Time Remaining”:
Artist: www.zool.be / www.facebook.com/zool.be
Label: www.wool-e-discs.be / www.belgianneumusik.be /
About Zool.
Zool. is the solo project of Belgian musician Gerry Vergult, who also records as Fred Angst and played in the Antwerp post-punk band Aroma di Amore. He runs the Hidden Pleasure Recordings imprint, which carries most of the Zool. catalogue.
The releases start with the EPs “Zoolepone” (2004) and “Zooleptwo” (2005), continue with the album “Vadem” (U-Cover, 2006), “Camera” (2009) and the numbered red vinyl LP “Bombykol” (2017), and include the single “Malmö” (Wagonmaniac Music, 2019).
“The Time Remaining” was released on 16 October 2021 and reached CD and vinyl through Wool-E Discs as chapter 40 of the Belgian NeuMusik series. On the Bandcamp page Zool. describes it as a fifth album that re-works “the ambient shapes and forms of his early work”, with beats “humbly restricted to subliminal rhythmic patterns”. The LP “Humanity / Empathy” followed on Consouling Sounds in 2022.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
