VORTEX, a creative pioneer of French avant-garde jazz rock, who endlessly disassembled and reconstructed the genres, created their own unique style by blending various musical elements; such as the aggressive heaviness of Zeuhl, the complex yet elegant ensembles of chamber rock, the polytempic and polyrhythmic structures of free jazz and the profound experimentation of 20th-century contemporary music. In terms of dense composition and excellent performance, as well as recording quality, Les Cycles de Thanatos is a masterpiece that far exceeds it's predecessor, which had a somewhat hastily-made feel. If the previous album was filled with high-tension numbers based on impact sounds and repetitive motifs, this album demonstrates how the band can create complex structures with elaborate and delicate layers, while seamlessly weaving multiple motifs through a variety of instruments. In particular, the 25-minute title song, which occupies the entire B-side, is a work in chamber rock style that incorporates elements of contemporary music into rock, and expresses Messiaen's motif in a darker and more intense way. The intro with various percussions including timpani and low-key heavy sounds is dark and abyss-like - reminiscent of (1979), a masterpiece of the Belgian chamber rock group Univers Zero, who were active at the same time as Vortex. In the second half of the song, amid the feast of various percussion instruments that stimulate both ears dazzlingly, it's plain to see that the musical accomplishment of Vortex at that time had reached it's peak.
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Recommended equipment and accessories
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Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
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Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
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Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
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Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
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Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
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