"File under electronic music" is written on the back of this CD - a strange attempt to categorize an album which resembles - I don't know what. Every prog artist with some self respect tries to cross borders now and then, but Guillaume Cazenave does it more constantly than most. At first it is easy to point at industrial rock, metal, jazz and electronica in the mix. The lyrics are not less overwhelming and confusing, although they have a general theme. As far as I can understand they deal a lot with how religion can affect sensitive minds. Besides, it demands your full attention following the lyrics even if you have the booklet in front of you.

Cazenave jumps between styles in a mad tempo, but it is still quite possible to follow his paths. Apart from short thrash metal outbursts (which there are quite a few of), his music is almost like a flowing stream which you can sit by and enjoy - after a few listens. You have to get used to Cazenave's music. The album works best if you can think of it as a whole rather than split into six tracks. The middle section "Interpassive Neuro Activity", 21 minutes without a consistent theme, is representative in this respect.

Guillaume Cazenave creates quite a bit of confusion as to his identity as an artist. Is he a pretentious, conceited fellow who on purpose tries to create a musical form as unlike anything else as possible, or is his music an expression of sincere artistic engagement? I choose to believe the last. In any case, at an age of 25 he has developed into an unusually original composer and performer, and I am really excited about his further development. "Worship Scraped" is supposedly the first in a series of five concept albums about the human condition. Such an ambitious project can go two ways.

©2004 Tarkus Magazine

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