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New Releases

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Artist:	FOLD ZANDURA
Title:	"ULTRAFOREVER"
Label:	BEC
Reviewed By:	Jim Jehs
Rating:

Created in 1995, "Fold Zandura" on BEC Recordings, was birthed from "Mortal," a band which Jyro Xhan and Jerome Fontamillas shaped with an industrial base and built a following for. Jyro and Jerome wanted to get back to their pop/ rock roots, and recruited Frank Lenz for the drums to form the unique sound of "Fold Zandura." Fold has been compared to the sound of the "Beatles" and "The Smashing Pumpkins," due to the strong guitar and drum skills, and added electronic samples to produce the pop hooks leading to the progressive style of the present. "Ultraforever" is an album containing lyrics which attempt to shed new light on universal issues. Beginning with the first cut, "La Futura," the track introduces the use of electronic sampling to produce an aura and specific affective sounds to promote a desired feeling associated with lyrics focused on everyone having the same opportunities, to learn from the past, and step into the future. The refreshing sound of the ocean in "Deep Surround" is a motivational track, depicting the ocean as an overwhelming world in which many of us face drowning, but, "when I'm weak, you are strong," the first evidence of the group's spirituality. "WenCarla," " Please Believe" and "Revenges" have the smooth blending vocals of the pop/rock era - love songs of romance, affairs, and revenge. Each song has it's own personality through electronic sampling. "Revenges" speaks of man ruined by woman and man wanting revenge because "she's taking all my time." The message being to move on and "nothing ever justifies revenge." My personal favorite is "Please Believe," a song that pleads for forgiveness, for support and passion that cannot be replaced. "Move" slows the pace way down to manifest, "I don't want to love the way fear makes me love you." "Hill" is a cut of anger and the frustration of the courting process. A relationship, in which love has spawned and one is not ready to say those magic words until he or she is ready, expresses that they must just get over that "Stormy Hill" to be able to share their souls, despite the fear of being hurt again. Would you tell "Everything" to the one you love, again the shows the fear of a growing relationship. Electronic intros and upbeat rythyms continue to prevail as love and support are vivid themes. "Mad Into" and "Tonight Forever" go from obsession to concession. The excitement of passion and then fleeting, fading love are characterized with the pace of the drums and the tone of the guitar. With a change of perspective, "Ultradust" has deep lyrics attempting to promote the idea one must not analyze one's self so closely, that we are just a speck of dust in the universe and we must learn to look away from ourselves and take a looksee at the big picture. Then maybe life might not seem so congested. An eerie, almost fantastical sound, leads into "Jesus Eternal," a soulful song relative to an individual's independent faith and the promise of eternal life, after existence in such a troublesome world. Then "Dark Divine" presents a mystical impression of the communion of the soul. A devotion to faith in an immaterial entity and a renewal as "I breathe you in." "Samour" is a fresh mix of sounds with more complex lyrics that seem to relate to the depression after a break-up. Associations of life and love describe someone who has hit rock bottom. The final cut, "Starwood," offers an array of sampling to produce a feeling of cruising through the universe, observing the gala affair of stars colliding. The clash, excitement and feelings that every man and woman long for in a relationship. "Fold Zandura" produces a sound that mixes electronic sampling and soft pop/rock vocals, with strong guitar and drum influences. Frank is tenacious with the drums at times, and seems to pace most songs. The vocals do not display much range or endurance. The rythyms and sound are repetitive at times, which may have initiated the shortness of the cuts. Often the lyrics are complex and deep, but are able to send the message desired and promote the feeling effectively. "Fold Zandura" needs to play a little bit harder, for they cannot count on their spirituality alone. Hopefully, "Ultraforever" is just the Genesis stage of sounds to come.

 

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