Fold Zandura

Item: Ultraforever
Author: Alex Klages

Ultraforever

(1997)

Reviewed by Alex Klages

Discogs Apple Music

Label BEC RecordingsThe LighthouseUnsorted 1998

alternative rock industrial rock pop rock synth pop

Jyro, Jerome, and Frank are back! This time they have an album, not just an EP in album's clothing. On this, their self-produced second album (fourth release, but only Return and this disc have had adequate distribution), Jyro Xhan demonstrates once again his uncanny ability for writing catchy pop/rock songs.

This time around, there is less emphasis on the guitars, though they are still a major part of the soundscape. Synthesizers and programming fill out the sonic textures, giving the music a richer, more textured sound than on Return.

The lyrics on this album tend to be based on love, true to the form of the pop song. Whether it's love toward God, love toward fellow humans, or romantic love, this seems to be the common thread through much of the songwriting. In the hands of a less able or less experienced songwriter, this could be a problem, but Xhan has a way with words that makes it work. Take the song "Mad Into," for instance:

I'm hearing music for the first time Colours my eyes have never seen Up where the trees can touch the sky And you take me there And I'm mad into you

It starts off clichéd, but works itself out in a stream-of-consciousness type of writing. Many of the love lyrics are addressed either directly or indirectly to God, such as "Jesus Eternal," "Mad Into," and "Dark Divine."

Not all the songs are love songs, though. "Here" and "La Futura" are standout tracks on this disc, the former being perhaps the catchiest rock anthem I've heard in a long time. Over a repetitive riff, Jerome Fontamillas gets a rare lead vocal appearance singing, "Here it is! Why are you waiting for what you were looking for that you find right here?" I find myself humming this one for hours after listening to it.

It is true that one catchy song does not an album make. However, there are other equally catchy songs. Perhaps not all 16 will grab everyone's attention, but at least the album is long enough that there is plenty of material to choose from. The tracks are nicely varied in length, too, which prevents them from sounding too cookie-cutter. Songs range in tempo from fast, full-throttle rockers like "Deep Surround" to mellow, slow ballads like "Jesus Eternal."

Only two things really get in the way of my wholehearted enjoyment of this album: Xhan's insistence on singing with a British accent (sounding suspiciously like Oasis or the young Beatles at times) and the overuse of a certain guitar/synth guitar sound. While it is nearly impossible for me to describe this sound, trust me, it becomes rather tiresome after a while. But these are minor quibbles; there is just enough variation that even the special sound is easily overlooked.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this album is that Fold Zandura finally sounds like a band, not just a group of talented musicians. I'd imagine that their touring to support Return helped in the cohesiveness of the band sound.

In closing, I'd like to quote the lyric sheet: "To everyone who thinks they've got Fold-Zan all figured out: think again, because believe me brother, we have just begun." Indeed they have. And I'm looking forward to what another couple years together will bring to this talented band!