Rialzu

*Limited edition of 300* U Rigiru, as suggested by the very title (in Corsican), is a circular endeavor, a self-referential leap from and into an existential angst-ridden enclave, enshrouded in a celestial abyss. Rialzu’s first and only album is rightfully considered by savvy collectors as a hidden gem in the prolifically versatile French prog scene. Firmly rooted in Magma-esque (Köhntarkösz period) dark matter, it deviates idiosyncratically from the Zeuhl meisters towards a stultifying eeriness that is so bewilderingly fresh as the foundational goth-rock masterpieces. Spearheaded by a mesmerizing interplay between baritone and soprano vocals, an assemblage of sinister twists and turns constantly undermines any conceivable catharctic mission. In between an ode to spectrality and vainly ruminating invocations, U Rigiru might as well have been composed by a group of Gregorian singers who are fans of Jacula, with a pinch of jazz-rock thrown in to good measure. This is a truly eclectic masterpiece to be cherished by zeuhl fans, inasmuch as by goth aficionados and Cold Meat Industry diehard fans.