Fold Zandura

Item: Ultraforever
Author: Aaron Blanco

Ultraforever

(1997)

Reviewed by Aaron Blanco

Discogs Apple Music

Label BEC RecordingsPuddlegum1998

alternative rock industrial rock pop rock synth pop

"The old [Mortal] music was good; but I wouldn't be able to stand just playing that. I have to be always pushing the envelope, trying new stuff." So said Jerome Fontamillas, bassist for one of music's perennial innovaters, Fold Zandura. Not long ago Fold played a show in Magee, Mississippi (February 17, 1998, to be exact) with tourmates, The Insyderz. I showed up early to help the bands unload their gear, and after everything was set up I decided to strike up a conversation with the bass player I so highly revered. I started the conversation with an obvious hook. "So, Jerome," I said, "Do you think that what your band has accomplished with 'Ultraforever' is the culmination of Fold Zandura's musical style?" His answer was probably what I would have expected from any great musician: "No, it's only a snapshot of where we were at the time we wrote it. It represents a period of our lives."

That period must have been a truly unique one in the life of Fold Zandura, because their latest album, 'Ultraforever' is what many would consider a new tributary in the alternative/sidestream music scene.

Fontamillas and I talked about our musical inspirations growing up (he named Led Zeppelin and U2, among others, as some of his favorites). And while the new Fold album sounds little to nothing like the works of the aforementioned bands, there are some similarities in the way each of those bands approaches music. It seems that Fold, like many of the greats in rock history, will never be content to just re-do their greatest hits album after album. In fact, Fold prefers not to even play their old stuff. "We toured for a whole year on Mortal's farewell tour, all over the country. So all those people who didn't see us then--too bad. That was your last chance to hear us do alot of Mortal stuff."

Longtime fans will certainly notice the broad range of sounds coming out of each successive Mortal and Fold Zandura album. 'Ultraforever' continues this tradition.

Upon my first listen of the new cd, my attention was immediately drawn to the obvious siren-like samples that permeate the cd. This is not new to 'Ultraforever,' and while this sound annoyed me at first, repeated listens got me used to it. Now, after about 50 spins around the block, I find myself appreciating the creativity of the poprockcandysirens sound. It is more flute-like than in previous incarnations, making it a bit more pop-sensible. These synthetic shrills set 'Ultraforever' and, by extension, Fold Zandura, apart from everyone else in the music industry, bar none. I quickly realized that no one is driving the same musical vehicle as Fold, mainstream or "Christian". Many aren't even on the same road. The marriage of layers of driving chords in quick time and a piercing, flying synthsound, all buttressed by the positive overall vibe of Jyro Xhan's vocals, is both obtuse and borderline genius. How can one classify it? Smilerock? Spacegroove? Houserock? Orbitjam? 'Ultraforever' defies classical definitions. Most bands can be pigeonholed with two or three other bands in five or less songs. Fold, on the other hand, packs five songs into each track, giving the band a unique flavor.

The synth harmonies are not all of what make this album great. Frank Lenz turns in another great syncopation effort, as do his band mates Xhan (guitar) and Fontamillas. It also gives fans a ton of listening fun--a whopping 16 tracks totalling almost an hour. While I myself have heard mixed reviews from friends and fans of Fold (consider the alliteration), listeners should embrace 'Ultraforever' as another positive step in the growth of one of this industry's darling acts. If nothing else, this step, as with all previous Mortal/Fold steps, will doubtless lead to new, more artistic sounds. 'Ultraforever' certainly lives up to Fold Zandura's unofficial creed: "Innovate. Don't imitate."