Radiale by ZU, a 2004 album.
“Radiale”, the fifth album by Zu, is a record that marks a real turning point in the career of the experimental Roman trio. The album was born from the collaboration with Spaceways Inc., an avant-jazz group from Chicago led by saxophonist Ken Vandermark.
The result is an explosive mix of math-core and noise, typical of Zu, with the sounds of free jazz and American cosmic funk.
Zu, with Luca T. Mai on baritone sax, Massimo Pupillo on bass and Jacopo Battaglia on drums, recorded the album in Chicago. Steve Albini was hired to handle recording and mixing, a world-famous producer and leading name in alternative rock (he worked with Nirvana, Pixies and PJ Harvey).
“Radiale” is not an improvised jam session, but a well-structured album, split into two parts.
The first four tracks are Zu’s original compositions, enhanced by Vandermark’s presence. The next four, instead, feature the rhythm section of Spaceways Inc., with Hamid Drake and Nate McBride, reinterpreting jazz and funk classics, always with Vandermark as the guide.
Basically, the album is split into two distinct blocks:
On Side A: Zu original tracks (with Ken Vandermark)
1. Canicula
2. Thanatocracy
3. Vegetalista
4. Pharmakon
Side B: Spaceways Inc. reinterpretations
5. Trash A-Go-Go (Don Cherry cover)
6. Theme De YoYo (Art Ensemble of Chicago cover)
7. You And Your Folks, Me And My Folks (Funkadelic cover)
8. We Travel The Spaceways / Space Is The Place (tribute to Sun Ra)
It’s a mix of American avant-garde and European noise rock, all seasoned with a touch of jazzcore, math-rock and free jazz. Massimo Pupillo’s distorted bass and Jacopo Battaglia’s mathematical drumming create a repetitive, heavy, hypnotic sound that recalls noise rock and post-punk. And then there’s the meeting between Luca T. Mai’s baritone sax and Ken Vandermark’s tenor sax/clarinet: an aggressive wall of sound, made of syncopated riffs and free, shrill improvisations.
Steve Albini, the wizard of analog sound, put his signature on this album. Recorded and mixed with no studio tricks or digital effects, the sound is raw, dynamic and perfectly captures the energy of a live show. In the second half of the record, the style opens up to acid funk influences, typical of Funkadelic, and to Sun Ra’s afrofuturism. The rhythm becomes almost danceable, while keeping a punk attitude (which never hurts).
“Radiale” is a “minor masterpiece”, perhaps, but essential. It’s the album that consecrated Zu internationally, proving that an Italian band could compete on equal footing with the masters of Chicago jazz. The album strikes a perfect balance between the control of math-rock and the chaos of free jazz. It never sounds pretentious; the impact of the music hits the listener directly and immediately, like a punch in the gut.
For those not used to noise sounds or avant-garde jazz, listening may feel a bit tiring, abrasive and lacking melodic reference points. But believe us, it’s worth it. “Radiale” is a unique document of a time when the Italian underground scene and the American one merged, influencing many instrumental bands born in the following years.
A record that above all does not disappoint, a mix of genres that works great and shows Zu’s strong ability to experiment and to collaborate with talented artists.
My Version
Label: Subsound Records (2) – SSR175LP
Format: Vinyl, LP, Reissue
Country: Italy
Released: 2026
Tracklist
Zu Quartet (Zu + Ken Vandermark)
A1 Canicula 5:44
A2 Thanatocracy 5:29
A3 Vegetalista 3:41
A4 Pharmakon 4:26
Spaceways Inc + Zu
B5 Trash A Go-Go 5:06
B6 Theme De YoYo 5:12
B7 You And Your Folks, Me And My Folks 4:40
B8 We Travel The Spaceways / Space Is The Place 8:10
Lineup
Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax] – Luca T. Mai
Bass – Massimo Pupillo, Nate McBride (tracks: 5 to 8)
Drums – Hamid Drake (tracks: 5 to 8), Jacopo Battaglia
Reeds – Ken Vandermark
Written-By – Ken Vandermark (tracks: 1 to 4), Zu (tracks: 1 to 4)
The biographical notes in the entry: Bromio by ZU and the revolution of the concept of avant-garde music.
