Zopp: Dominion

It’s not the latest new kids toy, Zopp is a band you need to hear from Nottingham UK. The band is difficult to describe, they definitely have that quirky Canterbury sound woven into their music, but I also hear elements of space rock and symphonic prog. The band consists of Ryan W. Stevenson, who is basically the master of ceremonies (composing, mixing, producing, and performing all instruments except drums) and Andrea Moneta (Drums). There are a few guests who play Horns and Flutes.

The album opens with the short “Amor Fati� setting you up with that quirky sound, using wordless vocalizations over the music and it segues seamlessly into the 11-minute “You�. A tense piano intro kicks off the track, then that fuzz tone organ and drums kick in to propel the song. I think this track sums up everything that Zopp aspires to be, excellent solo spots and interesting changes throughout. What about the vocals you ask? Well, I can’t say they are great, but honestly, there is something about them that works. There is a vibe to their music, and I find when the vocals are layered as you will hear at about the 7:25 mark, I’m enjoying them. Zopp employs multiple instruments in their sound, you will hear saxophone and flute during “Bushneil Keeler�, and this brings the Canterbury sound to the fore. I might even say there are moments here that remind me a bit of Traffic on their instrumental excursions. “Uppmarksamhet� feels like a transitional piece, but if you enjoy that organ sound, you’ll get plenty of it here, with a little guitar sprinkled on top. “Reality Tunnels� is intense, with various keyboards (organ, piano, mellotron), this one will keep you on your toes. The biggest surprise for me is the closer “Toxicity�, this one is full of energy, and comes in at an epic length of 14+ minutes. As mentioned previously, these longer tracks seem more comfortable and allow Stevenson to experiment more. It is difficult to keep the momentum going in longer tracks, but Zopp is successful here, I don’t find my attention drifting at all.

I’m not going to lie; I prefer their instrumental tracks to those with vocals. They blend the instruments well, and the arrangements are interesting and lively. That being said, the vocals certainly don’t take anything away, and I found myself enjoying them more with each listen. I also like that the band has a unique sound, yes, it has its roots in the 70’s, but they sound fresh and interesting. Do yourself a favor and give Zopp a chance; you will be in for a treat.

Track List:
1. Amor Fati
2. You
3. Bushnell Keeler
4. Uppmarksamhet
5. Reality Tunnels
6. Wetiko Approaching
7. Toxicity

Added: November 20th 2023
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 662
Language: english

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