Gnosis Ratings

Reviews:

Mike McLatchey 9-July-2001 Thoughts

Zyma - Thoughts (CD 026, 1985)
Zyma's second album came about five years after Brave New World, and it is much better. By this time, Zyma had incorporated a lot more jazzier references into their music, becoming a blend of Renaissance, Michal Urbaniak, and Benoit Widemann like styles. The 12 1/2 minute jam "Businessman" is an example of this, a nice Magma-like Rhodes groove over which female vocals and synths lay down parts, occasionally changing its rhythmic structure for the bluesy chorus. It's a really nice piece. Most of the rest of the album are 8-9 minute pieces, the opening title track, "One Way Street," and "Wasting Time;" explore Canterbury references as well as the folky and symphonic Renaissance like feel. The earlier bonus tracks, from before their first album and from the sampler "Proton 1" are in a more Frumpy-like style, even close to Octopus at times, a heavy, slightly progressive hard rock with female vocals. A very nice reissue, one of the better ones on the Garden of Delights label.
(originally reviewed as part of Garden of Delights, Exposé #19, p. 30, Edited for Gnosis 7/8/01)

Sjef Oellers 14-April-2001 Thoughts

Zyma is an obscure German band from the 70's. They played symphonic rock in the style of the UK band Renaissance, but with a much stronger fusion influence that dominates the instrumental passages. In the instrumental parts I can also hear hints of Canterbury bands like Caravan and Hatfield and the North. When the vocals appear, the music gets a lot more simple and less interesting. Thoughts is a decent album of Canterbury music, but comes nowhere close to the best Caravan, Khan, or National Health. Worth getting if you like the Canterbury scene, otherwise I would recommend exploring the classics first.

Links for further information

Mike McLatchey	9-July-2001	Thoughts
Zyma - Thoughts (CD 026, 1985) Zyma's second album came about five years after Brave New World, and it is much better. By this time, Zyma had incorporated a lot more jazzier references into their music, becoming a blend of Renaissance, Michal Urbaniak, and Benoit Widemann like styles. The 12 1/2 minute jam "Businessman" is an example of this, a nice Magma-like Rhodes groove over which female vocals and synths lay down parts, occasionally changing its rhythmic structure for the bluesy chorus. It's a really nice piece. Most of the rest of the album are 8-9 minute pieces, the opening title track, "One Way Street," and "Wasting Time;" explore Canterbury references as well as the folky and symphonic Renaissance like feel. The earlier bonus tracks, from before their first album and from the sampler "Proton 1" are in a more Frumpy-like style, even close to Octopus at times, a heavy, slightly progressive hard rock with female vocals. A very nice reissue, one of the better ones on the Garden of Delights label. (originally reviewed as part of Garden of Delights, Exposé #19, p. 30, Edited for Gnosis 7/8/01)
Sjef Oellers	14-April-2001	Thoughts
Zyma is an obscure German band from the 70's. They played symphonic rock in the style of the UK band Renaissance, but with a much stronger fusion influence that dominates the instrumental passages. In the instrumental parts I can also hear hints of Canterbury bands like Caravan and Hatfield and the North. When the vocals appear, the music gets a lot more simple and less interesting. Thoughts is a decent album of Canterbury music, but comes nowhere close to the best Caravan, Khan, or National Health. Worth getting if you like the Canterbury scene, otherwise I would recommend exploring the classics first.
Links for further information