EGGS AND ASHES

This album is mostly music accumulated from different projects (three apparently) that X-L S participated in. As most of the Belgian chamber prog groups have, they often were linked to multi-phase artistic projects and this made them fairly widely known in Belgium, even if this did not really helped them making a breakthrough. In this case, we deal with tracks that were written for short films of friend Wim Vandekeybus dating from 91 (Immer Das Selbe Gelogen), 93 (Her Body Doesn't fit her Soul) and 94(mountains made Of Barking). Needless to say that hardly none ever saw these movies outside of the opening screening events.

This mixing of the tracks outside their sequences and sometimes away from other tracks of the movies they belong to is somewhat a strange manner, but I programmed my deck to play the tracks as they were chronologically were recorded, there was not much difference. One thing for sure is that none of those tracks sticks out like a sore thumb, as could be feared with a such perilous gamble, and actually the whole ensemble of them make a very good album, maybe their better after Giant Dwarfs. If you heard the other X-L S albums, you will be categorically enthused by this one as it is right up their normal usual style, completely nuts, insanely crazy and absolutely impressive both in inventivity and virtuosity. Again, many parallels can be found in Quebecois groups like Miriodor, Interference Sardines and Rouge Ciel but also Swedish groups like a weird cross of Qoph, Von Zamla and Ensemble Nimbus, Finns such as Hoyry Koyne , Uzva and Alamaailman Vasarat or fellow Belgians Cro-Magnon,

Opening track sung in German (as are a lot of the tracks here) and close to German Cabaret music mixed insanely with almost acoustic hardcore punk is quite a stunner, while its follow-up is a cross of Talking Heads meeting Miriodor. Midwave is the first real highlight (but what is a highlight in such a bright album anyway) and its superb groove enthralling you to oblivion until the track fades out in total chaos, awaiting for its slow death until the bass is re-awakening from stupor and bringing right back into hell. Bigots beware, these guys are musically evil!!!! Vade Retro Deus!! In the dark ages these guys would've been purified on a bonfire for using so many crazy scales, notes and dissonance. Turkish Bath has evident eastern influences, Sparadrap being maybe the low point on the album for being a little too demonstrative and I am afraid it is at the track's expense. The closer Mask with its 17 min+ is a bellyful of peppers but much worth the successful digestion for future musical orgasms. Sounds intriguing? I certainly hope so!!!!

Even though this is maybe not an album per se since it is a compilation of three different sessions, the resulting object is pretty successful as an entity and is an excellent if not a textbook case of the typical album you might find in the RIO/Avant-prog section of the Archives.

X-LEGGED SALLY had a pretty good run in the nineties with five studio albums and some live stuff. This is a seven piece band out of Belgium with three horn players and the usual instruments. We do get vocals and plenty of humour. I just have this 1994 release and the followup "The Land Of The Giant Dwarfs" from 1995. We get over 58 minutes of music here and nine tracks, with the closer being a monstrous 17 plus minutes. The music is taken from three different projects they had worked on previous from '91, '93 and '94. Songs from these performances were compiled here with incredible results.

The only name I recognized was Jean-Luc Plouvier who is guesting on keys for one track, but was part of this band for their first two studio albums. Jean-Luc previously played on UNIVERS ZERO's "Ceux Du Dehors" and "Uzed" albums in the 80's. And speaking of guests, we get plenty with a total of nine adding keys, violin, trombone, bass, sax, guitar, trumpet and two vocalists. And the guest guitarist is Michel Delory who also played on UNIVERS ZERO's "Uzed" record. As far as the main band goes, I'm so into the rhythm section. That upfront bass plus a drummer who brings it in spades.

I really have fallen for this one despite the horns being played in a style I'm not that into, as in blasting away much of the time. And that opener stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it. Sounds like a German "Oom pa pa" song with vocals. So lame, but that's the point, as it starts to deconstruct towards the end. Nice. The second track "Laut Und Leise" features some raw and abrasive guitar, and I like the heaviness with that rhythm section. Some ripping guitar later on "Midwave" but before that it's all about the horns and it gets quite avant too. "Hate Song" is crazy to start, love the drumming. It turns experimental after 2 minutes.

"Turkish Bath" is catchy with huge bass lines and dissonant horns. Twisted stuff. "Sparadrap" is about the multiple sounds meshed together, quite punchy as well. "Mask" that 17 plus minute closer has it's moments but it's not all gravy. Still, a great way to end the album. It was fun re-acquainting myself with this one over the previous week. Another winner from Belgium!