Das Simple
In Girum Imus Nocte
EN VEUX-TU? EN V’LÀ! VLA008 CD (2013)
While it’s certainly not on the scale of the ‘correct’ titling of Hawkwind’s second album, there’s a certain amount of internet forum debate circling around Das Simple‘s In Girum Imus Nolte c.d. The crux of this mini-furore is to whether this Marseilles-based threesome are “Zeuhl”. In other words, are they an outfit who lays garlands at the feet of Magma’s Christian Vander or not, (see Archaia, Univers Zero, J. P. Prat for more zeuhlists…).
Alongside some skritchy post punk Big Flame-like guitar and blurred English vox humana, there are certainly mekanik elements within; especially threaded through the title track and “Tales of the Galactic Serpent, Part 3”. Those powerful, up the wooden hills to Bedfordshire in seven league boots progressions are ably served up by Julius’s low slung fuzzbass and the masterful octopoid drumming blur of the mysterious ‘Z’. But…I can also sniff out the manic yet regimented surge of King Crimson’s Red l.p. – a herbal tea-infused, received pronuncuiation take on heaviosity that was never really adopted by others at that time, save perhaps fragments of High Tide and Sandoz? I can see it now…a Bergmannesque game of chess in which ‘Death’ (Monsieur Vander of course), and Mr. Fripp (in intense ‘spectacles off’ mode) are locked in d-e-e-p, cerebral combat; with teeth gritted veins pulsing in their foreheads and fingers drumming in impatience, on the massive oak table; the winner’s spoils being made the grandmaster of the King Magma ubergruppe. O.K., so the Simplemen’s collective slips are showing a good half yard of material with regard to their influences, if they can trigger off daydreams like that. But this trio apply themselves in SUCH an explosive and dynamic manner, you can’t help but be swept up in their commotion. A trio magnifique or thereabouts…
And…if that sleeve art is at all vaguely familiar… I think that that the ‘small infant versus skull’ design seems to have been appropriated (?) from an illustration that used to regularly accompany printed ephemera from the very great Little Wing of Refugees reissue label. Now…do I win a food hamper or not [1. The image above confirms Mr Pescott’s suspicion. He will indeed be the recipient of one of Fortnum & Mason’s finest this month.]?
