Ovo (IT)
Noise / Experimental / Sludge / Industrial

Following "Miasma" (February 2020) and the chaos afterwards OvO felt the need of an album that would be different from the others, that would have new elements, some of which might be refined in the future, but also the need to continue the discourse that began with "Miasma". Infact, if on one hand the band continues to evolve as it has always done over its career of more than twenty years on the other hand the "Miasma" Tour was greatly compromised by the fact that the album came out right after the start of the pandemic leaving the band with the desire to continue performing those songs during the next tour. The new album will contain only two tracks both lasting over twenty minutes. In this sense the album could be described as doom or sludge but with OvO nothing is ever that simple.

The electronic elements that have been present over recent years are still there and play important roles in both pieces. Above all however the lyrics are composed of complete sentences in Italian, a thing which rarely happened in the past. Stefania Pedretti took her inspiration from science fiction and horror classics (Lovecraft, Dick, Bradbury, Butler, Barker, Mary Shelley, Stoker, Poe, Bierce...) bringing out the more esoteric side. The musical language dilates (and for this reason this album will most likely remain unique in OvO's discography) whereas the lyrical side is enriched with explicit meaning compared to the past where the lyrics where left up to interpretation.

At the end of 2021 OvO were forced to take a break due to serious health problems with Stefania but now they are ready to go back on tour in 2022 promoting "Miasma" again in the Spring and then the new album in the Fall, released again through ARTOFFACT RECORDS.

ZAäAR (BE)
Psychedelic / Improvisation / Experimental / Free / Jazz / Ambient / Surréalisme

ZAÄAR is a Belgian collective, twin project of Neptunian Maximalism, the cosmic free-jazz orchestra that has been turning the heads of psychedelic, experimental, and space ambient music lovers in a very refreshing way. Composed by singer and multi-instrumentalist Guillaume CZLT, saxophonist Jean-Jacques Duerinckx, drummer Sébastien Schmit, bassist HP Desrosiers and the electronics of Didier Nietzsche, the group produces psychedelic free jazz soaked in droning ambient, which awakens and stimulates old and forgotten senses since humanity lives in a grey and industrialized reality.

Through the music of ZAÄAR, we return to a time when everything was new, dangerous, and exciting. ZAÄAR is the reconquest of our wild side; the terrifying and primal roar of a spirit ravaged by magical drugs; the rich sounds of a soul returned to the primordial times, enjoying a life full of wonders and dangers again. Welcome to the jungle!

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ZAÄAR is :
Didié Nietzch : Synths, Ipads
Sébastien Schmit : Drums, Percussions
Hugues Philippe Desrosiers : Electric Bass
Jean Jacques Duerinckx : Saxophone Sopranino
Guillaume Cazalet CZLT : Vocals, Trumpet, Flutes, Percussions