Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine
Encyclopedia
Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine (Eleven Dances for Fighting Migraines) is the debut album
by Belgian
avant-rock band
Aksak Maboul
. It was largely the work of one of the band's co-founders, Marc Hollander
and was credited to Marc Hollander/Aksak Maboul. It was released on LP
in 1977 on a Belgian independent record label
, Kamikaze Records, and later re-released twice on Hollander's own Crammed Discs
label: on LP in 1981, and on CD
in 2003.
s, culture
s and genres
. With drum machines and looping organ lines, they shuffle between improvised
jazz
, ethnic music
, electronics
and classical music. It is largely an instrumental
album with snatches of singing and voices.
After the success of Aksak Maboul's second album, Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits
(1980), Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine "became a cult album in its own right." The Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock described the album as "a masterpiece. The pieces range from Satie
-esque to structured Zappa
-inspired rock, to very loose improv-jazz, and the execution in these diverse musical areas is extremely successful. Overall, the music has a certain lightness and humorous approach that I find all too rare in most prog and jazz."
, except where noted.
Side A
Side B
label. It contained an extra track, "Mastoul, One Year Later (live)" that was appended seamlessly to the end of "Mastoul Alakefak". The following guest musicians played on this live recording:
In 2003 Crammed Discs released Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine on CD. The linked tracks "Mastoul Alakefak" and "Mastoul, One Year Later (live)" were listed as a single track: "Mastoul Alakefak" – 9:16.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
avant-rock band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Aksak Maboul
Aksak Maboul
Aksak Maboul were a Belgian avant-rock band founded in 1977 by Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis. They made two studio albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits , the last one with ex-Henry Cow members Chris Cutler and Fred Frith...
. It was largely the work of one of the band's co-founders, Marc Hollander
Marc Hollander
Marc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
and was credited to Marc Hollander/Aksak Maboul. It was released on LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
in 1977 on a Belgian independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Kamikaze Records, and later re-released twice on Hollander's own Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
label: on LP in 1981, and on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in 2003.
Content and reception
Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine comprises 17 tracks that draw on a mix of musical formMusical form
The term musical form refers to the overall structure or plan of a piece of music, and it describes the layout of a composition as divided into sections...
s, culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
s and genres
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
. With drum machines and looping organ lines, they shuffle between improvised
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, ethnic music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, electronics
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and classical music. It is largely an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
album with snatches of singing and voices.
After the success of Aksak Maboul's second album, Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits
Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits
Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits is the second album by Belgian avant-rock band Aksak Maboul. It was recorded at Sunrise Studio in Kirchberg, Switzerland in February and August 1979, and released on LP in January 1980 on founding member Marc Hollander's Belgian independent record label, Crammed Discs...
(1980), Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine "became a cult album in its own right." The Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock described the album as "a masterpiece. The pieces range from Satie
Erik Satie
Éric Alfred Leslie Satie was a French composer and pianist. Satie was a colourful figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde...
-esque to structured Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
-inspired rock, to very loose improv-jazz, and the execution in these diverse musical areas is extremely successful. Overall, the music has a certain lightness and humorous approach that I find all too rare in most prog and jazz."
Track listing
All tracks are composed by Marc HollanderMarc Hollander
Marc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
, except where noted.
Side A
- "Mercredi Matin" – 0:22
- "(Mit 1) Saure Gurke (Aus 1 Urwald Gelockt)" – 2:25
- "Animaux Velpeau" – 0:34
- "Milano per Caso" (Paolo Radoni) – 3:18
- "Fausto Coppi Arrive!" – 1:08
- "Chanter est Sain" – 3:09
- "Son of l'Idiot" – 3:20
- "DBB (Double Bind Baby)" – 3:25
- "Cuic Steppe" – 4:20
- "Tout les Trucs qu'il y a là dehors" – 1:55
Side B
- "Ciobane" (trad. - arr. Marc HollanderMarc HollanderMarc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
) – 0:21 - "The Mooche" (Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
) – 1:35 - "Vapona, Not Glue" (Vincent KenisVincent KenisVincent Kenis is a Belgian musician and record producer. He was a member of the avant-garde group Aksak Maboul and of The Honeymoon Killers, an experimental rock band...
/Marc HollanderMarc HollanderMarc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
) – 6:40 - "Glympz" (Vincent KenisVincent KenisVincent Kenis is a Belgian musician and record producer. He was a member of the avant-garde group Aksak Maboul and of The Honeymoon Killers, an experimental rock band...
/Marc HollanderMarc HollanderMarc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
) – 4:49 - "Three Epileptic Folk Dances" – 2:16
- "Mastoul Alakefak" – 6:14
- "Comme on a dit" (Chris JorisChris JorisChris Joris is a Belgian jazz percussionist, pianist and composer. He is the son of Jan Joris, an opera singer. Joris joined Aksak Maboul in 1977, appeared on their first album but left the group later that year...
/Marc HollanderMarc HollanderMarc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
) – 1:15
Personnel
- Marc HollanderMarc HollanderMarc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
– keyboards, percussion, drum machine, xylophone, mandolin, alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet - Vincent KenisVincent KenisVincent Kenis is a Belgian musician and record producer. He was a member of the avant-garde group Aksak Maboul and of The Honeymoon Killers, an experimental rock band...
– accordion, guitar, slide guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion - Chris JorisChris JorisChris Joris is a Belgian jazz percussionist, pianist and composer. He is the son of Jan Joris, an opera singer. Joris joined Aksak Maboul in 1977, appeared on their first album but left the group later that year...
– keyboards, soprano saxophone
Guests
- Paolo Radoni – guitars on "Milano per Caso"
- Jeannot Gillis – violin on "Milano per Caso"
- Catherine JauniauxCatherine JauniauxCatherine Jauniaux is a Belgian avant-garde singer. She has been described as a "one-woman-orchestra", a "human sampler", and "one of the best kept secrets in the world of improvised music". Her solo album, Fluvial is regarded as one of her most accomplished works...
– voice on "Milano per Caso" and "Mastoul Alakefak" - Lucy Grauman – voice on "Chanter est Sain"
- Ilona Chale – voice on "Chanter est Sain"
- "Juliette" – voice on "Tout les Trucs Qu'il y a là Dehors"
- Lee Schloss – soprano saxophone on "Comme on a Dit"
Production
- Recorded April to May 1977 by Dan Lacksman and Vincent KenisVincent KenisVincent Kenis is a Belgian musician and record producer. He was a member of the avant-garde group Aksak Maboul and of The Honeymoon Killers, an experimental rock band...
- Mixed by Dan Lacksman
- Produced by Marc HollanderMarc HollanderMarc Hollander is a Belgian musician, producer and creator of the independent record label, Crammed Discs.Hollander was a founding member of the Belgian avant-rock group Aksak Maboul in 1977, which released two albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits...
, Marc MoulinMarc MoulinMarc Moulin was a Belgian musician and journalist . He was a member of the avant-rock band Aksak Maboul in 1977 and formed the pop group Telex in 1978...
and Vincent KenisVincent KenisVincent Kenis is a Belgian musician and record producer. He was a member of the avant-garde group Aksak Maboul and of The Honeymoon Killers, an experimental rock band...
Re-issues
In 1981 Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine was re-issued on LP on Marc Hollander's Crammed DiscsCrammed Discs
Crammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
label. It contained an extra track, "Mastoul, One Year Later (live)" that was appended seamlessly to the end of "Mastoul Alakefak". The following guest musicians played on this live recording:
- Frank Wuyts – keyboards
- Denis Van Hecke – electric cello
- Michel Berckmans – bassoon
- Geoff LeighGeoff LeighGeoff Leigh is an English jazz and progressive rock musician, playing primarily soprano sax and flute. He was a member of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow and founded several bands himself, including Red Balune, Random Bob, Black Sheep, Mirage, and Ex-Wise Heads.-Biography:Geoff Leigh's...
– saxophone
In 2003 Crammed Discs released Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine on CD. The linked tracks "Mastoul Alakefak" and "Mastoul, One Year Later (live)" were listed as a single track: "Mastoul Alakefak" – 9:16.
External links
..- Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine at Rate Your MusicRate Your MusicRate Your Music is a metadata database where musical albums, EPs, singles, videos, bootlegs, and movies are rated and reviewed by users. This data is then used to generate recommendations for users and to create rated lists of albums...
.