EMILE AU JARDIN PATROLOGIQUE

Recorded in the Fall of 81, Debile Menthol's debut album is very much in advance of its time and was obviously very influential for many group that are developing the Avant Prog genre (whatever that may be) today. From the Quebecois Miriodor, Rouge Ciel and Interference Sardine, to Finland's Alamaailman Vasarat or Uzva, to Belgium's Julverne, X- Legged Sally Hardscore or Cro Magnon etc.: all of these groups owe IMHO a big debt to Debile Menthol's works. Debile Menthol is a 9-man formation (most are multi- instrumentalists), from which will emerge Rossel and Huguenin. For a long recording career, much of which is featured on this site.

While Debile Menthol's music is a rather crazy pot-pourri of musical influences and borrowings, they often remain fairly accessible, fun, often going into the bombastic and grotesque folkloric fair music (like the Oktoberfest beer-bingeing music or circus music for example) and I bet you that if she was still alive today, my grandmother could find some of these pieces amusing and might just be tapping her foot along. The album is fairly acoustic (just some synths and electric guitars) and mainly instrumental, with only a few weird French rather-funny vocals in off-voices, but they can get demented as well. In the album highlight A Nos Mamans (To Our Mothers), they sound for a small minute like the Sranglers, if you can believe it. Other tracks can sound like some crazy Devo or Talking Heads (Regarde Par La Fenêtre and Crash Que Peut), but the whole thing being much more complex and as much fun.

Most likely one of the most influential album in the "Avant Prog" genre, given its early release date, and a fun one too. Only for progressive nutheads with a few loosened bolts above the neck level.

Believe me, this is not a carelessly given 5-star rating. I have listened to this album at least 20 times through, and it never ceases to amaze me. The instrumentation on this album akin to the virtuoso lunacy to be found on Begnagrad's eponymous album. Strange melodies and song structures dominate this LP, from the folksy, classically-influenced musings of Tres Amusant, Major to the haunting industrial vortex of Rien. I speak very sparse French, so I have no idea what these people are saying, and that is probably for the better. This album, as a whole, exhibits a slightly unhinged quality, as one would experience in a conversation with a seemingly normal person who nevertheless seems barely able to conceal his/her insanity. Bubbling beneath the surface of this album is a kind of demented-circus-quality of madness that seems at once both endearingly amusing and subtly dangerous. A must-have album for those who enjoy like their prog waaayy out there.

DEBILE MENTHOL released a couple of studio albums in the first half of the 80s and this is their debut. They are from Switzerland and they "sound" like they were influenced by SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA and ETRON FOU LELOUBLAN. And it "sounds" like they influenced MIRIODOR just to give you an idea of their style. A lot of fun, quirky with some lights-out musicianship. A punk drummer and a Stravinsky trained female violinist for example. A large band. I believe there was a core of seven plus many guests. A lot of multi-instrumentalists as well. Vocals are in french and I like them. Especially when he gets theatrical. Clarinet and sax, often dissonant along with the usual instruments.

NIMAL is a band that formed out the ashes of this band and I don't like them as much as these guys. This is such catchy and melodic music within the avant style. It's very consistent and uniform sounding. They're having too much fun and it's catching. I have a top five and while this is 50 minutes long, it includes two bonus tracks adding 5 1/2 minutes of time to the original album. Interesting that one of those bonus tracks is right in the middle at track six. Both fit in nicely mind you, no complaints.

The second tune at 8 minutes is the longest and a top five. After the one minute intro track we immediately get more depth here and a horn honking over top. There is so much going on on this album most of the time. Usually in intricate sounds but it's impressive. Guitar then violin before the horn returns. This continues then a drum solo before 5 minutes then bass comes out of that as it builds quickly. It's more normal sounding to the end. What is normal?

Tracks three and four are really good but the fifth one "Spacio-Cib" makes the top five. This is more serious sounding to begin with as the violin and bass lead. Clarinet then drums as it picks up. It settles back quickly. Some space on this track. Vocals arrive and he's determined after 3 minutes. Violin replaces him a minute later but theatrical vocals are back. Insanity! Some crazy laughter before 6 minutes. Tracks seven and eight make my top five after the bonus song at track six. The first is experimental at first, then deep vocals and a catchy sound take over. The next almost sounds like NEU! at first. Active drumming and some different flavours. The original closer at track 12 is my final top five. It's uptempo with pulsing sounds as the vocals join in. Catchy with great vocals.

Easily 4 stars, and I appreciate it even more than my first go around with it.