MA BANLIEUE FLASQUE

3.5 stars. Here's another album that Avant enthusiasts seem to adore. MA BANLIEUE FLASQUE were a five piece out of France who only existed for about a year before calling it quits. This lone release is from 1979 and has five tracks worth under 36 minutes. They seem to get lumped in with the Jazz or Avant sub genres the most, but if there was a Frank Zappa sub genre they would absolutely be a part of that. I get the Eclectic tag here though as they do mix things up here with the different styles in play.

Heck people even mention KOMINTERN which has a Canterbury flavour along with Zappa's foolishness which is actually a nice marriage, but then we get some avant and even Zeuhl references. The latter I thought might be a coincidence except that these guys were from France and may have known the music of Vander and his associates. No keyboards! A five piece with two guitarists, bass, drums and sax/flute. Most of the vocals are on that opener and they are all over the place and are both theatrical and funny. That scream will wake up most people.

I really don't like their band name or that album cover. I am English speaking only so I'm missing out, especially on the lyrics although we do get some English vocals as well. So we get some crazy and humerous French music here and really it's that almost 10 1/2 minute opener that is the highlight. The most Zappa sounding piece as well, in fact it's like listening to an old Zappa album with Flo and Eddy. Very much a Jazz style instrumentally on this one. How about "H.B.H.V." and that Zeuhl vibe late with the vocals. Nice. Some huge bass lines on both "N.S.K." and "Aller Retour Les Gresillons".

Such an interesting album but I'm not connecting to the music much. Lots of respect though for what they came up with here for being together such a short time. I may go into hiding after I post this, but 3.5 stars is all I got.