Génération Sans Futur

Génération Sans Futur (Generation Without a Future), Art Zoyd's third LP, comes back to the sound (and lineup, plus Daniel Denis) of the group's first Symphonie Pour le Jour où Brûleront les Cités. The 17-minute "La Ville" is a powerful epic including Thierry Zaboïtzeff's prehistoric grunts, complex time shifts, and a tribal/ritualistic feel once again close to the spirit of Magma. But unlike "Musique Pour l'Odyssée" (title track of Art Zoyd's second album), the music here is fast-paced, less atmospheric, more organized. It plays on the tension that will remain the basis of Art Zoyd's originality: a tribal, atavistic feel contrasting with contemporary classical aesthetics. Actually, Génération Sans Futur may be leaning more toward the contemporary side, as exemplified by pieces like "Divertissement," "Trois Miniatures," and the manic "Speedy Gonzales." "Génération Sans Futur," on the other hand, taps into a more visceral progressive rock format and percussionist Daniel Denis actually gets to play drums for a couple of minutes, giving the piece an unusual drive. A strong album, Génération Sans Futur would soon be eclipsed by Art Zoyd's next release, the band's two-LP classic Phase IV. Génération Sans Futur was reissued in 1999 on a two-CD set together with Symphonie Pour le Jour où Brûleront les Cités and Musique Pour l'Odyssée. ~ François Couture