ZEE / Identity [1984]

Kudos to Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright for trying out something different while away from his prog-rock outfit and dip into the new wave sound with synth-duo Zee's first and thankfully only album, 1984's Identity.
Synth-pop act Fashion's Dee Harris on vocals makes this is very much a product of the early '80's with it's clunky drum-machines, tired keyboards and overly dry Fairlight synthesizers.  As a Floyd enthusiast, this is like finding out your favorite great uncle, as a wee lad, used to make late night visits to the local petting zoo and fondle the livestock for sexual pleasure.  With a thorough search, one might find some mildly interesting moments hidden beneath the coked-up shit you're fed but it really isn't worth the trying work.

1½  light things out of 5

Songs of Note: Strange Rhythm; By Touching

ZION TRAIN / State Of Mind (2011)

Dub Reggae is instantly recognisable. It's also amazingly versatile, lending itself to crossovers easily and often successfully. State of Mind is pure Crossover Dub, adding a brass section, keyboards, samples and (too much) electronic Dance beats to the existing Dub sound. The result is an eclectic mix of good and bad that sometimes transitions beautifully from track to track, while at other times is so jarring that it seems as if the disc skipped. Perhaps I'm missing the point and that was the intention, but I feel that more thought put into the arrangement would've made the album a more enjoyable experience.

Songs of Note: State of Mind; Great Leap Forward

3 paint it black riffs out of 5

ZERO KAMA / The Secret Eye Of L.A.Y.L.A.H (1984)

Zero Kama play occult, ritualistic, tribal music on bizarre sounding instruments that the insert states: "…were exclusively made from human bones and skulls by the hand of Zero Kama." I don't know if that's true, but it's certainly possible. It's percussion-based with the occasional wind-style instrument (hollowed out femur?) to accompany and lift the repetition. You'll need an appreciation of tribal rhythms and the sound of rattling bones to even make it past the first track.

Songs of Note: Atavism Dream; Winged Eye Hadit

3 Inaugurations into the obscure out of 5