VàVà Vol’s Vavaland - News, Videos, Music and Art from around the world: 2025

Thursday, 11 September 2025

I am very pleased to share thierry massard's review of my new album 'Radio Pill', recently published on his stellar music webzine nocoVision!

I thank you very much thierry and appreciate your profound and deep esoteric understanding of my music!

Tap on the link below to read the full review!

Radio Pill on nocoVision

Radio Pill Full Album

Thursday, 4 September 2025

It's Bandcamp Friday Today - September 5. 2025

Interview with Zoom Unit's New Album Astrocone Copperneck and Cyclops - August 22, 2025

BACKGROUND

Zoom Unit have been together since December 2019 when they released their first 8-track album ‘Head West’. To date they have published 8 full albums, several singles, and a collaboration with the Chicago-area guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter Diane Marie Kloba.

Zoom Unit’s music genre is 21st century avant rock fused with electronica, with a helping of krautrock on the side and served up by Andy (Duke) Whitehurst and Andy Pidluznyj of the New Apostles. ZU’s music is best sampled loud!

All words and music by Zoom Unit composers and musicians Andy "Duke" Whitehurst on Vocals, Vox instruments, Guitar, Bass, Microkorg and Andy Pidluznyj on Vocals, Vox instruments, Bass, Korg Kaossilator, Arturia Microfreak, and other assorted electronic sounds. Listen this fine album album on your headphones to immerse yourself in the ZU Experience!

"We're still as productive as ever and still enjoying making music.

Hope you enjoy it too!"

VAVA: Today, I’m here with Andy Pidluznyj of Zoom Unit of Mansfield, UK, to chat about their new 11 track album titled ‘Astrocone, Copperneck and Cyclops’ released on Bandcamp, August 14, 2025. Welcome back Andy! It’s a pleasure to have you here again! It’s been three years since we worked together on the mammoth New Apostles interview of May 10, 2022! Our interview was so much fun! We left no stone unturned on that one Andy. It was a very successful hit on Vavaland!

ANDY: Three years! They've flown by! Lots has happened, we recorded a couple of albums in that period, The Evel Knievel Blues and Cliff Diver, and here we are now with another one. We really enjoyed the last conversation with you, looking forward to this!

VAVA: Congratulations to both you and Duke on the new release!

ANDY: Thank you! We’re very happy with it and it’s been getting a good reaction from people who’ve given it a listen. What’s interesting is people have lots of different favourite tracks, I think that’s always a good sign.

VAVA: How’s that ankle healing? Are you able to get around now?

ANDY: Ha!! Well, I am back on my own two feet and driving again. It was massively frustrating to have broken it, after the operation I was non-weight bearing on it for six weeks, then another six in a moon boot. But I got the all-clear from the consultant and it’s great to be doing normal things again, including standing up to play bass! Although, as a side note, I am guaranteed to trigger the detector when I’m next at the airport with all the metal in my ankle…

VAVA: I note there are 2 versions of the album, the Digital Download 11 track version and the Compact CD 11 track version plus the 2 bonus songs, Elephant Trap and Under the Surface. What made you decide to add the bonus tracks and is the CD a Limited Edition?

ANDY: We thought 13 tracks was too long for an album, it would have clocked in at over an hour, so we decided to offer a couple of tracks as bonuses on the CD version. And yes, it is a limited edition CD so get it while you can is our advice!

VAVA: When did you start the work on this project and how long did it take you to get to the finish line?

ANDY: We wrote the songs between May 2024 and March this year, recording them as we went along and finessing them until they felt done.

VAVA: Was the album recorded remotely or in your studio in Mansfield and who did the final mastering?

ANDY: We recorded remotely, starting from rhythm tracks, sharing files and adding guitars, bass, synths, other sounds and vocals, at the same time trying to keep a live, organic feel to the music, not overproducing the life out of it. Duke did the mixing and final mastering.

VAVA: What can you tell us about the unique title and cover art image of the hooded supplicating figures, more specifically the man standing on an arcane emblem? I'm getting a frisson of the occult, divination, hidden beliefs and secrets, supernatural and esoteric concepts.

ANDY: The title may (or many not, for legal reasons) be the nicknames of three people we know... The artwork is a found image of Orthodox priests in a monastery. The shadowy figures seemed to reflect the mood we were hoping to achieve of an element of mystery and intrigue.

VAVA: The album tracklist is very well thought out. Animation Blues is a very cool intro dance track as the following eclectic 9 tracks steadily escalate to the outro hard rock psychedelic electro noise, ‘The Invincible Sun’. There are many surprising messages and learning curves hidden within each track, waiting to be unlocked by the curious listener. This is one of the cool hooks of ZU’s music!

ANDY: Thank you! I always think it’s important to pay close attention to the sequencing of an album to make it flow and take you as a listener on a journey. We experimented with different combinations until we hit on what we thought worked best. We like coming up with new twists and turns to keep us, and hopefully listeners, entertained, whilst at the same time maintaining a coherence to our music so it’s instantly recognizable as Zoom Unit.

VAVA: I thought I would take a look through Johari’s Window, and discovered a psychological communication model of 4 quadrants, representing different aspects of self-awareness and interpersonal relationships. As Andy keeps a steady bass line, he sings of all 4 quadrants, he’s backed by a cool lofi sampler and a panned reverse high hat action. Duke dives in with gusto on his fierce 80s punk rock riffs and especially in his 1 min. solo.

ANDY: I had a tune awaiting a title and then my son and I were talking about a course he’d just been on and he mentioned the Johari Window. We looked at each other, laughed and said that it sounded like a Fall song title and so Johari’s Window came into being!

VAVA: Next up is Analogue Junk. Andy’s super catchy bass line carries this tune from beginning to end, Duke’s superb riffs guitar riffs reminiscent of the late 70s early punk movement, with great drum machine action, and an occasional cow bell, a siren and a sampler, these peripheral touches grab your aural attention and are really effective.

Does it get any better? Well, here’s what Andy has to say:

Analogue Junk

Analogue Junk punk

Put your money in the jukebox

Hit the button let’s hear some punk rock

Put your money in the damn damn juke box now

Put your money in the damn damn juke box

ANDY: Duke came up with this tune, the last one we recorded for the album – it sneaked in because it had so much energy and life. The lyrics were inspired by my past experiences with temperamental Parisian jukeboxes, which, whatever I pressed, always seemed to come out with Johnny Halliday!!

VAVA: The Invincible Sun is an amazing work of higher plane psychedelia occult rock, featuring Duke’s epic rock guitar, Andy on bass, a fierce analog synth, electronic pagan drums, evoking visions of The Golden Dawn, The Theosophical Society and Western Esotericism. Who did the synth work on the Invincible Sun and did you use your Korg Kaossolator here?

ANDY: The Invincible Sun is 99% Duke, I only play the synth washes at the start. Originally it sounded different, more restrained. Then I wasn’t around for a week or two and Duke said he’d start recording it, by the time I was back it was complete! It was going to be an instrumental but I added the chanting to heighten the sense of awe and mystery at the Invincible Sun, the late Roman sun god…

VAVA: Clearwater Overlook opens on a sad and tragic note as Duke’s guitar riff intros the solemn track, to the popular spot for visitors to see the Mt. St. Helen’s devastation and aftermath of the 1980s volcanic eruption where 58 people lost their lives. Andy paints a bleak landscape as he puts lyrics to the death and destruction the eruption left behind.

ANDY: Clearwater Overlook was a potential song title I had made a note of since stopping off there, a remote forestry road around Mt St. Helen’s in Washington State, on a Pacific Northwest road trip. It fitted perfectly with the atmosphere of Duke’s music.

Volcano breathing fire

Fumes choking, cue expire

At the Clearwater Overlook

Ash falling from the skies

Tears forming in our eyes

At the Clearwater Overlook

Sun hidden behind cloud

Grey smoke hanging like a shroud

At the Clearwater Overlook

Night brings a hazy glow

Time passes by so slow

At the Clearwater Overlook

New Apostles on Vavaland 2022

The Chasm - Collaboration Between Vava Vol & Deepsong Productions Albums - August 20, 2025

A Journey to Sacred Spaces on YouTube - August 18, 2025

Bandcamp Friday - 21st Century Industrial Noise - August 1, 2025

Now available on Bandcamp! Please welcome my new album 21st Century Industrial Noise - Vol. 1. All music is composed using the no input synth technique. Thanks for listening!

Music by Vava Vol

Album cover art photo and design by Vava Vol

Bandcamp Friday - August 1, 2025

Welcome to Bandcamp Friday! On today's menu is a new soundtrack of Sensitiv Organz Live at Les Foufounes Électriques 1986. Enjoy the trip!

Vava Vol Bandcamp Friday

An Anamnesis Moment New On YouTube - July 21, 2025

Psychosoma - Rework 2025 On YouTube - July 16, 2025

Vava Vol Horizontigo on YouTube - July 8, 2025

Vava Vol's Pylon Photography Series 2025 - June 30, 2025

Front shot of power substation

Inside a Pylon

Early morning shot of pylons

Inside a pylon shot 10 years ago

Two Barrel Pylons

Afternoon pylon shot

Early morning pylon shot

Wooden post transmitter lines

Overcast morning Barrel Pylon

Overcast electrical lines

Barrel pylons

I Blow My Mind Teaser Video Clip by Vava Vol - June 30, 2025

Fade In / Fade Out by Vava Vol - June 28. 2025

Vava Vol New Video Mini Skurrt On YouTube - June 11, 2025

New Video Good Morning June 7, 2025 - June 10, 2025

Apogee on Bandcamp

Vava Vol May Scanart Project 2025 - May 31, 2025

Boss VO-1 Vocoder Guitar Pedal

Indonesia

Pixels

Indonesia No. 2

Parallel Lines

Narcissist

Red Dragon

Found Object No. 10

Afrikan Tribal Wooden Mask

Jazz Fusion Keys

Found Object OTO

Inukshuk

Rare 60s Canadian Astatic Microphone

Fade In/Fade Out - May 27, 2025

Audio clip is the intro track 'Coy'

from my 2021 album Mind Over Mind!

Enjoy!

Mind Over Mind

Happy 2025 International Synthesizer Day - May 23, 2025

Happy 2025 International Synthesizer Day honoring the birthday of Bob Moog and the contribution of electronic synthesizers to music. I've chosen my DSI Mopho to celebrate this day. I used it with my Micro Korg and the Korg Triton LE back in 2014 -2016 when I was in Techno Mode.

Have a super day and give your favorite synth a hug!

Dave Smith Instruments
MOPHO

Vava Vol's BZ Gas - Music Video on YouTube - May 23, 2025

Vava Vol Radio Pill on noCoVision Essentials May 2025 - May 8, 2025

This just in! Thank you so much to thierry massard for including my new music video "Radio Pill' on his noCoVision Essentials for May 2025. Have a look! Cheers!

noCoVision Essentials

Vava Vol's 'Radio Pill' on YouTube - May 6, 2025

Thanks for listening!

Keys

Big Fish Little Fish

Manual Staple Gun

Good Friday

Emzone Air Duster

Roses & Baby's Breath

Saw blade shop clock

It's Bandcamp Friday Today - May 2, 2025

It's Bandcamp Friday today until midnight PST! Stop by and check out my eclectic music back catalogue. Imagine you're in a record store! Get your yogi on with my new compilation 'Vava Vol's Music for Yoga & Meditation - Vol. 3'. Have a great day and enjoy your shopping experience. The next BCF is August 1, 2025!

Vava Vol Bandcamp

Vava Vol Music for Yoga & Meditation - Vol 3

@vavavol

Vava Vol's A Deep Rift On YouTube - April 10, 2025

Euphonious Noise - Vol. 3

Sketch No. 1 - The Vava Vol Paintings and Sketches Edition 2024 by Painter Eric Boudreau - April 6, 2025

Sketch #1 is from the Vava Vol Paintings & Sketches Edition 2024 by the Montreal painter Eric Boudreau. That year I sent Eric some precut unframed canvases I found at my local Recycle & Reuse Centre. This

edition's 4 sketches were painted on those canvases & the wig was one of many I sent to him as a b-day gift. What goes around, comes around in a good way!

Vava Vol's Music for Yoga and Meditation The Singles Collection Vol 3 - April 3, 2025

Please welcome 'Vava Vol's Music for Yoga & Meditation, The Singles Collection - Vol. 3'. Enjoy this 7 track 2 hour ambient mix as inspirational music for your daily spiritual practice.

Om Mani Padme Hum!

Vava Vol's Music for Yoga & Meditation The Singles Collection Vol. 3

Previous Volumes:

Vava Vol's Music for Yoga & Mediation The Singles Collection Vol. 2

Vava Vol's Music for Yoga & Meditation The Singles Collection Vol. 1

New Album in the Works - April 2, 2025

Here's a peek into this pure experimental work on a new album. I'm using various analog synths for this project and what you're listening to is a short clip created using my ARP Odyssey. Enjoy the noise and thanks for listening!

Video of The Vava Vol Paintings and Sketches Edition 2024 - March 29, 2025

Please welcome a music video I made of the Vava Vol Paintings and Sketches Edition 2024 by the Montreal Artist Eric Boudreau.

To view the original Vavaland post of this Edition tap on the link below!

Thanks for listening!

The Vava Paintings & Sketches Edition 2024

A Record Breaking March Snowstorm Hits My City - March 28, 2025

A record breaking March snowstorm hit our city overnight with a stunning 30cm of snowfall. Here's a few shots of the storm I took early this morning. I'm still waiting for my snow removal service provider to dig me out! Some much for today's bike ride! I'll just have to wait a few days!

Vava Vol Paintings and Sketches Edition 2024 by the Artist Eric Boudreau - March 24, 2025

Please welcome the 'Vava Vol Paintings Edition 2024' by the Montreal painter Eric Boudreau. As Eric continues to pursue his passion to break the boundaries of conventional portrait painting, he intuitively follows his creative artistic journey with great ardor.

The paintings herein have been Eric's pet project in progress since 2024 and were recently completed in February 2025 as a collaborative work between us for this post.

All paintings and sketches are acrylic on canvas and panels. Eric recycles and reuses paint, used canvasses and other supplies he finds discarded on the street and donated by his friends and supporters.

Sketch #4
17" x 21"
Eric Boudreau © 2024

All paintings are photographed by the artist Eric Boudreau
in his home studio in the sky and displayed here
in their original raw completed artworks.
No filters have been applied to these paintings.

For further information and inquiries regarding Eric's paintings, please contact him on Instagram @1969eb.

Eric Boudreau © 2024
All rights reserved

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