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AMG Review by Caleb Deupree  [-]

The late '70s were a heady time in European progressive rock circles. Chris Cutler, drummer of the leading group Henry Cow and unrepentant leftist seeking to distance himself from both major-label and American rock influences, found similarly minded groups in France, Sweden, Belgium, and Italy, and brought them together for a British tour under the banner of Rock in Opposition (RIO). New musical influences and adventures gave rise to more short-term formations for Cutler and Fred Frith (Cow's guitarist), including this venture with a Belgian duo, Aksak Maboul, comprised at the time of Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis. This group had recorded an album in 1977, Onze Danses Pour Combattre le Migraine, which became a cult album in its own right. As Aksak toured, their paths crossed with the various RIO groups, which led to this album in 1980. Cutler and Frith brought a solid rhythm section, but ready to make terrific noise when appropriate (as on the backing tracks of "Inoculating Rabies"). Michel Berckmans, wind player from Univers Zero (one of the Belgian RIO groups), and Hollander were the wind and reed section. Frank Wuyts and Denis Van Hecke rounded out the group on keyboards and strings. Stylistically, the album is all over the board. For example, the opening track, featuring Catherine Jauniaux on vocals, launches into a twisted blues number, with the singer freely improvising and trading licks with Van Hecke's cello and Hollander's sax. The second part of "A Modern Lesson" features extremely intricate horn writing, with different players rapidly trading different elements of the lines. "I Viaggi" uses a Middle Eastern scale, with cello and voice doubling the melody line. "Palmiersen Pots" is a classical piece for string trio, followed by a tango composed from several popular pieces cut up with scissors and reassembled at random. The album culminates with a long suite (originally all of side two on the vinyl release) based on a shorter arpeggiated figure, composed sections alternating with solos on bass, cello, electric cello, and synthesizer. On top of all of the great musicianship, Frith and lead engineer Etienne Conod performed significant studio wizardry after the sessions. "A Modern Lesson" contains sounds from a pinball machine as well as bits from every other track (and this is well before the age of samplers). The lead bassoon/oboe lines of "Inoculating Rabies" would be inaudible over the guitar and percussion noise in a live situation, but the contrast makes the piece. The CD reissue includes a track by a later Hollander/Kenis group, which unfortunately only magnifies the greatness of this Aksak Maboul lineup and this album, which remains a pinnacle of the RIO movement.

* ‎– Un Peu De L'Âme Des Bandits Label:  ‎– Atem/Crammed 002,  ‎– Atem/Crammed 002, ‎– Atem/Crammed 002 Format: , LP, Album 
Country: Released: Genre: , ,  Style: , ,  Tracklist A1Modern Lesson Bassoon, Oboe, Choir – Cello [Violoncellos] – Drums [Part I], Performer [Flipper], Recorder, Choir – Drums [Part II] – Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Violin [Violins], Viola, Bass – Organ, Piano, Clarinet [Bb], Bass Clarinet, Saxophone [Sax] – Voice, Performer [Flipper] – Written-By – * 4:58A2Palmiers En Pots Alto Saxophone – *Bassoon – *Cello – *Drums – *Piano – *Violin – *Written-By – *, *Written-By [Trio] –  3:24A3Geistige Nacht Bass – *Bassoon, Oboe – *Cello – *Drums – *Piano, Synthesizer [Oberheim] – *Soprano Saxophone – *Written-By – * 5:18A4I Viaggi Formano La Gioventù Cello [Acoustic & Electric Cellos] – *Goblet Drum [Dumbeg], Soprano Saxophone, Organ, Tape [Tapes] – *Guitar [Guitars] – *Oboe – *Synthesizer [Oberheim], Piano – *Written-By –  5:09A5Inoculating Rabies Bass Clarinet – *Bass, Lead Guitar – *Bassoon – *Drums – *Rhythm Guitar [Rythm Guitar], Cello [Electric Cello], Voice – *Written-By – *, * 1:47Cinema22:45BaCe Qu' On Peut Voir Avec Un Bon Microscope Bass, Guitar, Guitar [Prepared] – *Cello [Acoustic & Electric Cellos], Voice – *Composed By – *, *Composed By [Part Of] – *, *, *, *, *Drums, Percussion, Performer [Radio] – *Oboe, Bassoon – *Organ, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Xylophone, Piano [On Intro] – *Piano, Synthesizer [Óberheim], Percussion [Percussions] – *Voice – * 7:25BbAlluvions Bass, Guitar, Guitar [Prepared] – *Cello [Acoustic & Electric Cellos], Voice – *Composed By – , *Drums, Percussion, Performer [Radio] – *Oboe, Bassoon – *Organ, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Xylophone, Percussion [All Percussions] – *Piano, Synthesizer [Óberheim] – *Voice – * 5:27BcAzinou Crapules Bass, Guitar, Guitar [Prepared] – *Cello [Acoustic & Electric Cellos], Voice – *Composed By – *, *Drums, Percussion, Performer [Radio] – *Oboe, Bassoon – *Organ, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Xylophone – *Piano, Synthesizer [Óberheim], Percussion [Percussions] – *Voice – * 7:05BdAge Route Brra! (Radio Sofia) Bass, Guitar, Guitar [Prepared] – *Cello [Acoustic & Electric Cellos], Voice – *Composed By – *, *, *, *, *, *, *Drums, Percussion, Performer [Radio] – *Oboe, Bassoon – *Organ, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Xylophone – *Piano, Synthesizer [Óberheim], Percussion [Percussions] – *Voice – * 2:48 Companies etc Recorded At –  Credits Arranged By – * (tracks: A1), * (tracks: A2, A4 to Bd), * (tracks: A2, A4 to Bd),* (tracks: A2, A4 to Bd), *, * (tracks: A1, A2, A4 to Bd), * (tracks: A2, A4 to Bd),  (tracks: A4, Bb) Cover [Back Cover], Layout –  Cover [Front Cover] –  Mixed By – , ,  Recorded By –  Notes Recorded february & august 79 at Sunrise Studio. 
'Palmiers' composed with a hat, scissors & glue. 
Order of "solos" in 'Cinema': 6 strings bass, violoncello, electric cello, oberheim. 
English ist die international langwidj. 
Track A2 incl. 'Trio' from "Nuits D'Argentine" 
Merci encore Etienne & Eva Sunrise, Brigitte Dooms, Olivia Bruynhooghe, Jean Debefve, Véronique Vincent, Eric Faes, Tina Swanson, Pierre Narcisse, Titi Smolderen. 

Tracklisting on Side A label: 
A1 Bo Diddley 
A2 Trio / Tango 
A3 Rondo 
A4 Truc Turc 
A5 Pogo 
B Knokke 

Catalog number on sleeve rear & spine "Atem/Crammed 002", on label Side A label "ATEM-CRAMMED 002" Barcode and Other Identifiers Rights Society: SABAM Matrix / Runout: CR 002 - A1 Matrix / Runout: CR 002 - B1

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GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.