AKSAK MABOUL – Un peu de l’âme des bandits – CD – CRAM002

Originally released in January 1980, the second album from (Crammed founder) Marc Hollander’s band was more intense and experimental than Aksak Maboul’s debut album, yet often as playful. Containing complex written sections, free improv, and a wild variety of elements, Bandits was recorded with a band comprising revered UK musicians Fred Frith & Chris Cutler, who joined Aksak’s then-current line-up of Michel Berckmans, Frank Wuyts, Denis Van Hecke and Hollander, plus guest vocalist Catherine Jauniaux.

Un peu de l’âme des bandits is described by All Music Guide as “a pinnacle of the RIO movement” (RIO being Rock In Opposition, the late-’70s radical, pan-European coalition of bands, which Aksak Maboul was part of). The album reached #3 in the NME’s top ten European albums of 1980 (alongside Yello, The Nits, Steve Reich and Faust!).

Crammed Discs