“Zs have transformed itself into a battering ram of brackish sound and befuddling rhythms--think of Steve Reich phasing experiments produced into a blackened soup by the Boredoms and you’re getting close; think Black Dice performed by Sun Ra and you’re getting closer.”
- Village Voice
"Zs handle clangorous or fast or highly repetitive material with precision; what can sound like free improvisation or jamming is actually music composed so tightly. These pieces are all brain-benders; conceptual art objects that set form and content against each other — like, say, a perfect birthday cake made out of sawdust, or a perfect hammer made out of bird feathers." - New York Times on New Slaves
We are pleased to announce the new record from Brooklyn-based Zs entitled New Slaves Part II: Essence Implosion!; scheduled to be released January 25th in digital and LP formats. This record serves as a companion (or sequel) to New Slaves, their acclaimed double album from earlier this year and features remixes of that material by such luminaries as Thee Majesty (Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and Bryin Dall), JG Thirlwell (Foetus), Cex, Gabe Andruzzi (The Rapture), Zebrablood (Excepter), Weasel Walter (Flying Luttenbachers), and Ecstatic Sunshine. It is fascinating to hear these wholly individual talents pontificate about what the music of Zs is to them through their own sounds.
Zs also insinuate themselves in to the mix contributing the opening track “MMW IV: Essence Implosion!,” a side long epic which uses the aforementioned remixes as a sound palette from which to compose. On it they have furthered the band’s kalaedoscopic membership principle that has long centered around the vision of tenor/saxist Sam Hillmer. For this recording he is joined by no-wave hero Weasel Walter, WFMU’s Marty McSorely (to put the mix in the remix at the tables), and long-time Zs drummer Ian Antonio. The track also sees the return of founding Zs member, and Extra Life pioneer, Charlie Looker.
On New Slaves Part II: Essence Implosion! Zs’ continue to embrace the studio as instrument, including not just the faculties of a studio in their process, but outside remixers and producers as well, demonstrating the ultimately collaborative nature of their approach to music. It is both the perfect accompaniment to New Slaves and a definitive musical statement in its own right. Zs have managed to craft a work that both reflects on (and even interacts with) their past, while also looking forward to its future through new collaborations. New Slaves Part II: Essence Implosion! will be available as a limited 12” (500 copies) as well as a digital version featuring extra tracks.
The tracklisting for both versions of New Slaves Part II: Essence Implosion! is as follows:
LP VERSION:
1. MMW IV: ESSENCE IMPLOSION!
2. CONCERT BLACK [THEE MAJESTY REMIX]
3. ACRES [CEX VS. ZS REMIX]
4. NEW SLAVES [JG THIRLWELL REMIX]
DIGITAL VERSION:
1. MMW IV: ESSENCE IMPLOSION!
2. CONCERT BLACK (SPACEWALKING VERSION) [ECSTATIC SUNSHINE REMIX]
3. NEW SLAVES [WEASEL WALTER REMIX]
4. DIAMOND TERRIFIER [ZEBRABLOOD REMIX]
5. CONCERT BLACK [THEE MAJESTY REMIX]
6. ACRES [CEX VS. ZS REMIX]
7. NEW SLAVES [JG THIRLWELL REMIX]
8. ACRESRMX [GABE ANDRUZZI REMIX]
All tracks from the digital version are available with the LP version via a free download.
Click here to hear "AcresRMX [Gabe Andruzzi Remix]"
This month Zs will be heading to the West Coast for a short tour. In celebration of New Slaves Part II: Essence Implosion! they have put together a special live performance: building entirely off of the New Slaves Remixes, and off of fragments from New Slaves the album, they have reconstructed a set of music that encapsulates the New Slaves set while moving into another territory altogether. Working with DJ equipment, adopting and mutilating a model taken from Hip Hop, Zs finds another way to challenge physical limitations of audience and performer. This tour will prove to be a completely individual experience that is not to be missed.
Full details of the tour are:
November 16th at The Shooting Range in Oakland, CA
November 17th at Milk Bar in San Francisco, CA
November 18th at The Hub in Sacramento, CA
November 19th at Acrobatics Everyday in Irvine, CA
November 20th at Soda Bar in San Diego, CA
November 21st at The Smell in Los Angeles, CA
November 22nd at Biko Garage in Isla Vista, CA
November 23rd at Hustle House in North Hollywood, CA
* all dates are with Arrington De Dionyso
For all promo, interview and guestlist requests please contact: jim@thesocialregistry.com
