Moving this forward. A couple of nights ago I revisited my CD of the debut. Such a great album. They had announced back in 2021 they were putting the finishing touches on their third album Hunab Ku. And then they disappeared. Ugh! Where did ya'all go?
Amaterasu (2016)
Corima's last album, the kinetic Quetzalcoatl, blew my bloomin' mind, so I was a bit reticent to jump into their new one. Even though I bought the album upon release late last year, I didn't hear it until this week. So did Amaterasu match or exceed the previous effort? No, of course not. I don't think that was even possible, or even a reasonable ask. OK, then, but is it at least good? Oh heck yea! It's fantastic in fact. But I don't think there was much more they could have done in the direction of Quetzalcoatl without being a straight copy. So, like Eskaton before them, they tried something a bit different. Eskaton had at their disposal a current trend of synth pop, that they completely destroyed into their own unique twisted vision. Corima was not near so bold, sticking to more tried and true Zeuhl principles. Amaterasu is broken into two distinct tracks. The more jazzy, atmospheric, and melodic 'Tsukutomi' (recalling at times Vander's Offering) and then the charter Zeuhl school of the title track. The opener has some brilliant foot stomping moments offset by a bit of loose sax wankery that doesn't serve the band well. However the melodic songwriting is a step in the right direction, and would be interesting for them to marry Quetzalcoatl's style with it. The title track too has an atmospheric buildup. Think Weidorje. And then the real party starts. Zeuhl styled chanting and screams, hyper active rhythms, sax and electric piano cycling into swirls of madness, bass and drums pounding your brains into the turf. Weeeeeee. OK, time to get in line for another ride.
---8/4/17
Quetzalcoatl (2012)
Corima are a group who first assembled in El Paso and moved to Los Angeles. Their full length debut is an astounding album. It maintains the intensity of the Japanese Zeuhl school (think Koenji Hyakkei), but possesses a much clearer focus and the music is given more room to breathe. Violin, saxophone, fuzz keyboards, and female vocals are the distinguishing sounds and characteristics of the album. There is plenty of amazing super-tight ensemble work throughout - all in hyper drive - that are truly sublime. The melodic interludes that constantly pop up among the chaos are truly enlightening in this setting. Magma's Mekanik is the most obvious comparison overall, though they go faster and harder than that may imply. All five members put in a fantastic performance, but special mention goes to Andrea Itzpaplotl (nee Calderon) for her brilliant violin work and beautiful vocals - and to Sergio Sanchez-Ravelo for his monster staccato drum work. He must've lost 20 pounds just recording this album! For my tastes, one of the best Zeuhl albums since the glory days of Eskaton!
---10/3/12
10/3/12 (new entry)
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