Initially a Pennsylvanian acoustic duo, brothers Alex Paul Zug and Jacob Andrew Zug relocated in 2016 to join Middle Tennessee State University’s Recording Industry program, find bassist Josh Dixon, and go through a Sloan-meets-The Black Crowes, 311-learns-The-Jayhawks-harmony phase in Tennessee as alternative rock trio Züg.
As the 2020s hit, Alex and Jacob re-invented Züg as an ethereal ambient, synth-glitch electronica group following up 2016’s Crash with a more THX theater sound effect-esque sophomore EP, All Colors Make Black, released out of the now-legit Zug Productions in 2022.
All Colors Make Black seems a synergistic audioscape pitching Zug Productions’ evolved capabilities (its post-alt-rock phase), but, aside from the business angle, the All Colors Make Black EP is just as much a quick, single-serving therapy session offering waves of well-produced and well-mixed synth, glitch and heart-driven, ephemeral universe chatter accompanied by positive (or at least neutralizing) lyrical affirmation audibly equivalent to a big, warm hug.
At just five tracks and 13 minutes, it’s suggested All Colors Make Black is listened to in order, in its entirety, but the middle three songs are where Züg explores its philosophy of spreading “peace and love worldwide [in the face of] regimes, climate crisis scares, ET/UFO disclosure, and a lack of global connection to the Holy Spirit.”
“Love the Way” vibes as a youthful, live-in-the-moment ego-feeder that covers a range of synth fillers equivalent to the producer firing pistols in the air in excitement. It absolutely works and is just as therapeutic as “Past Life” by Arkells and the Cold War Kids.
The piano-robot-coming-in-on-an-asteroid arrangement of the equally free-flowing “Let the Universe Take Control” utilizes some dark, rich chordal shadings to create melodic emotion, building as optimistic of an outlook for that asteroid-riding robot as possible, possibly channeled from a Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots practice session.
“Rollin’” would fit perfectly for the trailer of a heart-tugging, ’90s rom-com set in Africa, as soft maracas and long, breathy synthesized notes swish in tribute to a “smoke ride.”
Now, bookending these middle three are a pair of seemingly immaculate intro/outro numbers that inhale and exhale universal peace, as well as the therapy session’s facilitation and easing conclusion.
“Rise Up,” the theme of the EP and its first track (perhaps taking a soothing note from “Elevator Beat” by Nancy Wilson), officially introduces Züg’s newfound, ambient electronic chatter as a soothing phone voice subdues any overactive thoughts: A long time ago/at the inception of creation/there was a vision of a place so beautiful, so perfectly balanced, it unified all nations. . . . The human heart is the key. The gift is inside. The Kingdom is being built. The power of God is alive. If you want to be free and believe in his story, take control of your soul, and Rise Up.
“F is Hope,” All Colors Make Black’s outro, channels the heady and ponderous Icelandic post-rock of Sigur Ros in vibe, but somehow with easing, synth raid sirens, with vocals exhorting Shine. Through the dark.
Wait . . . is it a Christian album?!
Find All Colors Make Black, and other work from Züg, on Spotify. There’s also an instrumental version of the release. Visit zugproductions.com for inquiries into the Zug brothers’ production company, specializing in arrangements, beats, post production and mixing.
