Biography
The seeds of Absolute Zero were sewn over twenty
five years ago, and through persistence and determination, have
grown into an amazing outfit. After many revolving lineups,
the basis of the current lineup took root in 1987 when Aislinn
Quinn joined Enrique and Paul. During the next five years, the
band composes the bulk of its written material while rehearsing
and forming a cohesive unit, and despite setbacks, releases
their debut EP, A Live in the Basement in 1992, recorded
on a two track VCR. The next few years saw moving to Miami and
the refinement of their repitore.
1999 saw Pip Pyle replacing Rogers on drums, and embarking on
a small West Coast tour with the band. In 2000, the band enters
the studio to record the band's first full length album, Crashing
Icons. The band is currently looking for a label to release
the final product of this album. For more info, read on to the
official band history on the Absolute Zero website.
- Mike Prete
[July 2002]
Source:
Absolute Zero Website
A Live in the Basement (1992)
If anybody out there actually bought Darling at my recommendation,
you might also want to check out Absolute Zero. Like Darling,
this band is another example of American progressive musicians
making their best efforts to persevere despite an unwelcome musical
climate. Absolute Zero have actually been around in some form
or another since 1975, yet it was 1992 before they released A
Live in the Basement, this two-song "single." I say "single"
because it is almost 20 minutes long!
Aside form
Absolute Zero's history of perseverence, there are other similarities
to Darling. This is some pretty unusual and complicated stuff
on this disc. It's loaded with changes in time, and tempo and
features a largely electronic-sounding atmosphere. Unlike Darling,
however, there is quite an emphasis on vocals. They are provided
by keyboardist Aislinn Quinn, whose vocal style is quite similar
to that of many female R.I.O. vocalists. She sings and plays
some pretty odd melodies and to make things even harder to swallow,
her voice is usually drenched in some bizarre effects a la Frank
Zappa.
Enrique
Jardines and Paul Roger provide some great bass and drum work
respectively. These guys are experienced and talented musicians
who know their way around odd times and wacked-out rhythms.
When I first heard this CD I was afraid I'd never be able to
get into it due to its extremely avant garde nature, but as
I've found many times, the hardest music to get into at first
is often the most rewarding in the long run. I'm starting to
genuinely like this stuff now and I hope to like it even more
in the future.
If you like
your music really progressive and with a dose of social commentary,
along the lines of Henry Cow, 5UUs and Frank Zappa, you'll probably
love this CD and you'll want to keep your eye open for their
next release, which is in the works. Give Absolute Zero a chance
and send them your five bucks.-
Scott Hamrick [February 1998] 
Click
Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info
Crashing Icons (2000)
According to Absolute Zero, 'Music is a Revolution', and the band
has sought to champion the cause of forward thinking ideas and
sounds through their unique brand of controlled mayhem. While
sharing similar ideals with the original Rock in Opposition movement,
Absolute Zero's music stands as a reactionary force to the overwhelmingly
stagnant state of most music today. Drawing from a pool of influences,
the band combines the complexity of 20th Century Classical music
composition and improvisational freedom of Jazz without losing
sight of the radical elements born from the birth of rock and
roll. Imagine the dissonance of Henry Cow filtered through a postmodern
aggressiveness.
Repetitive
and distorted bass lines and forceful percussion (courtesy of
Canterbury legend Pip Pyle, who you've never heard like this
before) underscore an almost Koenji Hyakkei-esque Zeuhl element
at times, while abstract vocal and keyboard melodies dance through
dissonant passages, providing a lighter balance to the overpowering
rhythmic force. A unique use of modern technology, sounds are
processed to biting, industrial timbres that accentuate the
immediacy of the music, with the occasional blast of trumpet
and tinny, spiky digital keys. The extended length of the songs
is the perfect breeding ground for the dark and foreboding passages
that slowly simmer and explode, bent on exploring a new direction.
Absolute
Zero's uncompromising vision has unfortunately never allowed
the release of their music to come to complete fruition. Nearly
ten years in the making, Crashing Icons is a triumph
of individual thinking and free spirit yearning for a chance
of free expression, and this artistic tension shines through
the music. Here's hoping an enterprising label will soon take
a chance and give this the wide release it deserves. -
Mike Prete [July 2002]
Click
Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info
