UN PEU DE L'ÂME DES BANDITS

4.5 stars. In my opinion this second album by AKSAK MABOUL is a full star better than their debut. Most have them 1A and 1B but this sophomore release is more of a band effort, more in the RIO realm, and less avant. If it wasn't for those first two tracks I would be giving this 5 stars. And those two tracks are good, just not incredible like the rest of the album. We get six tracks under 44 minutes. My edition has a bonus track with THE HONEYMOON KILLERS helping out. That was band leader Marc Hollander's other band at this time.

The debit from 1977 was more of a Marc Hollander solo album with musical partner Vincent Kenis being his left arm on that one. Here Vincent is is reduced to helping with the arrangements only, but overall there are six members helping out with the arrangements, making this much more of a band effort. And how about adding HENRY COW members Chris Cutler on drums and Fred Frith on guitar, violin and bass. And with them helping out with the compositions along with Michel Berckmans from UNIVERS ZEZRO well, much more RIO sounding. Berckmans by the way guested on the debut, but here he is all over this album with his bassoon and oboe. And of course having Cutler playing drums is huge, and compared to the drum machine on the debut? Come on! Frith by the way might be the biggest addition to this record.

Frith composed that third track "Geistige Nacht(Rondo)" and how about his bass work starting before 4 1/2 minutes. Soprano sax from Hollander gets pretty crazy at times on this one, lots of bassoon as well. The opener "A Modern Lesson(Bo Diddley)" is a Hollander composition but yes that "Bo Diddley" melody is there. Some demented vocals from Catherine here but I like them. This is twisted but melodic. Horns honking at 3 minutes. The second track sub-titled "Tango" is my least favourite. Just too traditional sounding I suppose. Old school. And while that fourth track with the long title is a traditional song it's really good. Ethnic sounds early and some male vocals. I like this. Some goblet drums here which I like and Frith on guitar. Great track.

"Inoculating Rabies" is like a post-punk track with the energy and intensity for under 2 minutes. The closer is divided into 4 parts and is a 23 minute suite. And it's amazing! The highlight of the album for me. Lots of bassoon and organ early then a calm with cello before it gets experimental. Haunting before 4 minutes. It starts to build before 6 minutes then kicks in a minute later. So good. It turns classical sounding when it settles before 8 minutes. Chamber music really and dark. More life around 11 minutes then it turns powerful with some upfront guitar. Nice. Another calm after 13 minutes with piano and atmosphere then it starts to build a minute later into an intense section at 17 minutes. The cello is incredible as well as the drumming that follows.

This goes into my "best of" avant section without question. A slow start but they more than make up for it. One of the best RIO albums out there.