Zopp: New Canterbury on the way from Bad Elephant Music

[PCMusic]

Love Zopp, their sound is right my alley. The last album "Dominion" was certainly at the top of my last year's album aquisitions. With the CD of "Live at Danfest" I was waiting for a local distribution here in US but did not want to risk missing it completely and not seeing it it in the offing yet just bought one of the last two remaining copies from the Astronomy Recording Music bandcamp website. Only one copy, out of the 300 made, was left after my purchase, so if you like the band and the physical format better hurry.

Also bought a digital format of their previous concert offing "Live at the Sumac Centre" from the previous year. Only three tracks are available there, as seemingly only the first three were recorded out of seven. Bummer and then with the first two repeated at the "Live at Danfest" one. Still it is a glimpse at their first ever live concert and most probably will combine the two concerts and burn a CD, since this is the format I listen to the most.

[Trane]

Diagonal is pretty good band. Or at least their album The Second Mechanism is. I haven't been so enthusiastic about their other albums although they all have their moments.

Edit. As Sputnik wrote I also don't hear much connection between Zopp and Diagonal (which I personally prefer).

Only heard two Diagonal albums (the debut & 4n which seem to be the better ones out there), and I didn't remember hearing Canterbury laced music/

As for Zopp, I was enthused by their debut, and if there was a way to order from the continent (since the Brexit thingie), I'd probably own their second and order the Danfest.

But I never did and TBH, it's nothing I can't live without at home. BC seems enough for me.

[Kcrimso]

Only heard two Diagonal albums (the debut & 4n which seem to be the better ones out there), and I didn't remember hearing Canterbury laced music/

How can you determine that those two are the best if you haven't heard the others?

[Trane]

How can you determine that those two are the best if you haven't heard the others?

ratings and forum discussions...

and I do remember sampling their 2nd & 3rd on BC at the time.

[Kcrimso]

ratings and forum discussions...

and I do remember sampling their 2nd & 3rd on BC at the time.

Ok. What I have seen on forums most people seem to think that The Second Mechanism is their best. And they are 100% right!

[Plasmatopia]

The live album is pretty interesting. A bit rough around the edges (like a live album should probably be I suppose) and slightly jarring drum sounds, but I'm glad I grabbed a copy.

[interbellum]

As for Zopp, I was enthused by their debut, and if there was a way to order from the continent (since the Brexit thingie), I'd probably own their second and order the Danfest.

The Zopp-live album is being shipped from Spain: https://astronomyrecordingmusic.band...ive-at-danfest
It's Sold Out right now, but more will follow soon. See the mail Ryan sent out last week:

Zoppers,

Today I am proud to announce the release of our latest recording, 'Live at Danfest.'

I was pleased to find out that the special edition CD pre-order, limited to 50 copies, sold out within a few hours, released through Astronomy Recording Music.

This album was recorded in November 2023, and it was only our second performance in front of a live audience!

We've learnt so much since then, nearly a year later, but this is still a special release, with Rob Milne adding some great flute and saxophone to the Zopp sound. (Rob originally performed on the studio recording of 'Toxicity' from the Dominion record).

As you will hear in this live recording, some songs have evolved from the studio recordings, in terms of performance and arrangements. Over time, as we've performed as live as a group, the songs have continued to morph and change for the best, which is what makes the live format special.

'Perspektiv' is an unreleased track which basically is the improvised second half of 'Uppmarksamhet'. Again, improvisation is something that I wanted to explore more with the Zopp live band, and this song 'Uppmarksamhet/ Perspektiv', has repeatedly become a crowd pleaser, with many audience members telling me, since we've played this many times, that it was the highlight of the show. I'm really proud of this jam - with some amazing guitar work from Zopp guitarist, Richard Lucas.

Some listeners have asked me when I plan to release the Artist Edition CD of 'Live at Danfest'. This, again, will be limited to 50 copies. I will announce the release date for this in the coming weeks...

Please support us today on Bandcamp - we keep the digital money for this album, so support here

>> zopp.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-danfest.

There are only a few CDs left from Astronomy Recording Music, so don't miss out here

>> astronomyrecordingmusic.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-danfest


Have a great weekend!!

Ryan , and Zopp

[veteranof1000psychicwars]

Only heard two Diagonal albums (the debut & 4n which seem to be the better ones out there), and I didn't remember hearing Canterbury laced music/

It must be my weird ears, l picked up on a Soft Machine influence on the debut album. Haven't heard any others, but l am interested in hearing the second one now.

[Sputnik]

I just received my copy of Zopp's Live at Danfest today and gave it a first spin. Some early thoughts...

Overall, this is a good and honest live representation of the band. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more material from the first album, but that didn't spoil the party. The band sounded incredibly tight, and to my ears the sound quality of the recording is excellent. I'm utterly baffled by the comments in this thread about the drummer being "too busy," or whatever. Drums sounded fantastic to me, as did the bass, guitar, and occasional sax. Keys were totally fantastic, as one would expect, as this is really the star aspect of the show, and they didn't disappoint.

On the bad side... the vocals. OMG, this is bordering on Steve Howe territory. I was iffy on the vocals on the second studio album, but this is vastly worse. This guy needs to take some lessons and get more command of pitch and solid delivery. There aren't many vocals on the album, but I found them hugely distracting when they appeared. Definitely points off for that on my scorecard.

I'm not sure this gave me any new revelations about the material on Domination, but I'll be spinning it more, along with the first two albums in my cross comparison with Diagonal, so we'll see what develops.

Bill

[veteranof1000psychicwars]

I just received my copy of Zopp's Live at Danfest today and gave it a first spin. Some early thoughts...

Overall, this is a good and honest live representation of the band. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more material from the first album, but that didn't spoil the party. The band sounded incredibly tight, and to my ears the sound quality of the recording is excellent. I'm utterly baffled by the comments in this thread about the drummer being "too busy," or whatever. Drums sounded fantastic to me, as did the bass, guitar, and occasional sax. Keys were totally fantastic, as one would expect, as this is really the star aspect of the show, and they didn't disappoint.

On the bad side... the vocals. OMG, this is bordering on Steve Howe territory. I was iffy on the vocals on the second studio album, but this is vastly worse. This guy needs to take some lessons and get more command of pitch and solid delivery. There aren't many vocals on the album, but I found them hugely distracting when they appeared. Definitely points off for that on my scorecard.

I'm not sure this gave me any new revelations about the material on Domination, but I'll be spinning it more, along with the first two albums in my cross comparison with Diagonal, so we'll see what develops.

Bill

Checked out the first Zopp and l actually quite like it. I was the "too busy" drum guy and l am happy to retract that assessment. Drumming is excellent and appropriate to the music. What one gets from offering a hip-shot first impression.
Don't know if a deep analysis comparing them to Diagonal would yield much of value. I really do get a Soft Machine/Canterbury vibe from Diagonal in places but that could be my weird ears. Heard it more prominently in Volare way back in the day but a lot easier to hear with those guys, especially live. Anyway Diagonal were great at what they did until they weren't, apparently. Zopp is doing what they do in the present and are good at it...and kicking people's asses with quality music in the present is as vital as it ever was. Obviously they are playing gigs and if they are, l imagine their tickets are a lot less than $100, or pounds or quid, or Euros. They are worth their weight in gold just for that alone. So Godspeed to them, l say.

[Kcrimso]

I don't think that drumming of Zopp is too busy but I find it really stiff and there no much groove which usually is present on Canterbury albums.

[Steve F.]

"Got 'Live' If You Want It"

[Trane]

I'm noy-t going to spend much mre time discussing Diagonal in a Zopp thread, but....

Ok. What I have seen on forums most people seem to think that The Second Mechanism is their best. And they are 100% right!

Well over at PA, the ratings favor widely the Debut and 4 (both a cumulative >4/5 average rating), but the second still gets an excellent 3.8

RYMis definitely more balanced (all four ave averaging between 3.5 and 3.65)

It must be my weird ears, l picked up on a Soft Machine influence on the debut album. Haven't heard any others, but l am interested in hearing the second one now.

Well, there is a small JR/F side, but neither PA or RYM mention Canterbury
Soooo, since my listens are now ancient and my notepad has a few scribbles difficult to decipher nowadays (and I wonder why didn't review it at the time for PA in 08/09), I looked at other reviews, and I haven't seen Soft Machine or other Canterbury bands mentionned.

Here is most of their debut live the same year: they're closer to Hawkwind than The Softs



I'm over and out. I prefer straight line to diagonals

[polmico]

"Got 'Live' If You Want It"

Really glad I picked it up! I was not a big fan of the debut. Some interesting things happening, but I thought the drummer was a little heavy-handed (an opinion I am not alone in having--someone else mentioned the same thing in one of these threads), but I won't lie that the very limited nature of the Danfest live release was a motivating factor. (Can't have a collection without, well, collecting some stuff.)

Just spinning it now and, wow, this is good stuff. Confident playing, good solos, good groove. Heck, I even like the vox (in fact, I think they are quite good)! I suppose I should go back and buy the sophomore album as well.

[Plasmatopia]

Drums sounded fantastic to me...

I gave this another spin in headphones and I think it sounds really good except for one thing. I think it might be the floor tom which sounds like it's clipping or something right on the initial attack. I find it a bit distracting.