Zoner
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Cypriot one man band Zoner is back with a new album, the third one – and the second one this year. It is an album that boasts are really attractive artwork and the CD can be had for free from the artist, so it will be difficult to disregard the value for money even though the CD comes in a very limited number. So the man behind is both generous and diligent coming out with another eight tracks now only about eight months from the previous album. The previous album was relatively well received by us even though I held myself somewhat reserved towards the production that I thought could have been better.

Well, musically Zoner draws influences from a little here and a little there, it is rock, pop, metal, funk or whatever that makes his music quite wide-ranging but still kept fairly coherent. This album is a little more straightforward than the previous, also a bit more towards the metal end of the scale. That it is a bit more straightforward and heavier is definitely positive since the production is still a bit old-fashion, some would probably call it a bit cheap while maybe some others might put a retro label on it – it reminds me of the sound on Rainbow’s Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll, it sounds old. Vocals are good. The album may be a little bit more straightforward and metallic compared with the predecessor but there are still some quirkiness and such things that makes this song wise quite fresh and interesting while it soundwise feels lacking in that regard. The album is kept short and to the point on eight tracks.

I think it is a strong album, certainly well worth the money for those who buys the CD. I like the songs, they have good drive and energy, the more metallic sounds certainly makes the production less of an issue, though I would rather have heard it with a stronger more modern sound as I think that would have made it even better. But it is the sound that is the sole weakness of the album, it feels like something that was made thirty years ago – but of course if you are nostalgic for that time you might look at it slightly differently. Still, I like the album despite the sound being less to my liking.

I think all the songs work well and cannot really say that one of them stand out above the others, it works well all the way through and as a moment of easy musical entertainment I think this album works very well – it is well worth giving it a few minutes of your time. And besides, it is impossible to argue against the fact that it is brilliant value for money. Zoner comes highly recommended to those of you who look at the past with rose tinted glasses and believe that the best music was made in the seventies, it has the right sound and the right amount of quirkiness for something of that era.

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