Dr. Zab & His Robotic Strings Orchestra

Artist's edition

Dr Zab & His Robotic Strings Orchestra

Thierry Zaboitzeff, Art Zoyd’s bassist until 1996, released his second solo album in 1992, at the same time as the two ‘Marathonnerre’ cds (‘Prométhée, his first solo work, was released in 1983).
On this album Dr. Zab takes a romp through his home studio. Zaboitzeff mixes together an orgy of sampled sounds and noises and diverse instrumental tracks. The result is a singular, electronic sound brew which from ‘Marathonnerre’ on increasingly characterizes Art Zoyd’s music as well : neo-classical, gloomy, threatening, symphonic, complex – just more synthetic as the music on the band’s albums from the 1980’s.
The whole work is quite varied, including a series of background noises (water dripping), horses clip-clopping, helicopters flying by...etc.), at times quoting classical role models (for instance the track ‘Dr. Zab & his robotic string orchestra’ is stolen directly from the third movement of Schostakowitsch 8th symphony) without mentioning the corresponding composers – but hey, we’re used to Prog-musicians doing that – and has a truly gigantic sound.
‘Dr. Zab & his robotic strings orchestra’ is a wholly interesting cd and a worthy investment for all Art Zoyd-completists and electronic sample freaks. 

Achim Breiling