Abus Dangereux looks like something worth checking out.

I got some more suggestions for that ZART list, french invasion:

Abrial Stratageme Group
Chico Magnetic Band
Clivage
Fille Qui Mousse
Francois Thollot
Horde
Horrific Child
Jean-Claude Vannier
Jean-Louis Bucchi
Kha- Ym
Laurent Thibault
Les Chats Renaissance
Maajun
Manu Lannhuel
Michel Magne
Noco Music
Roland Bocquet
Visitors
...and Igor Wakhevitch

Some others missing:

Airlord (NZ)
Archimedes Badkar (Sw)Arturo Staltieri (It)Art Fleury (IT)Axis (Greece)
Bauhaus (It)David Bedford (UK)
Deep Freeze Mice (UK)
Coupla Prog (Ger)
Doubling Riders (IT)Golem (Ger)
Günter Schickert (Ger)
Herbert F. Bairy (Ger)Orchestraa Njervudarov (IT)
Osjan (Pol)
Proyecto (Spa)Skin Alley (UK)
Skywhale (UK)
Stomu Yamashda's East Wind (Ja)Yugen (IT)
Zartong (Arm)

I couldn't find any of these on it, but I've only seen the version of the list that was posted in the RIO thread sometime in October. (I can probably help some with info etc.. with all these).

Rocktopus wrote: Abus Dangereux looks like something worth checking out. I got some more suggestions for that ZART list, french invasion: Abrial Stratageme Group Chico Magnetic Band Clivage Fille Qui Mousse Francois Thollot Horde Horrific Child Jean-Claude Vannier Jean-Louis Bucchi Kha- Ym Laurent Thibault Les Chats Renaissance Maajun Manu Lannhuel Michel Magne Noco Music Roland Bocquet Visitors ...and Igor Wakhevitch Some others missing: Airlord (NZ) Archimedes Badkar (Sw)Arturo Staltieri (It)Art Fleury (IT)Axis (Greece) Bauhaus (It)David Bedford (UK) Deep Freeze Mice (UK) Coupla Prog (Ger) Doubling Riders (IT)Golem (Ger) Günter Schickert (Ger) Herbert F. Bairy (Ger)Orchestraa Njervudarov (IT) Osjan (Pol) Proyecto (Spa)Skin Alley (UK) Skywhale (UK) Stomu Yamashda's East Wind (Ja)Yugen (IT) Zartong (Arm) I couldn't find any of these on it, but I've only seen the version of the list that was posted in the RIO thread sometime in October. (I can probably help some with info etc.. with all these).

From what I find farmilar with this list, I would definitely give a thumbs up to a lot of those bands. I think you will find Golem somewhere around the Krautrock or psych departments (I would be surprise if they were not), and Coupla Prog I think also would fit quite snuggly under Kraut as well. Gunter Schickert could be under Electronics progressive? (not sure).

Chris the Igor Wakhevitch, which I have listen to so far was nice. I need to look into it a little more deeply. But there were some very nice atomspheres to be heard. Just wondering are there connections with Horrific Child? I don't know why I have gotten this feeling.

Once again I'm quite surprised Archimedes Badkar is missing.

Also nice to see someone other listening to the likes of Doubling Riders and Deep Freeze Mice !!!


Could you tell me a little about Kha - Ym, if this is what my memory is tell  me it is  I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

I think you will find Golem somewhere around the Krautrock or psych departments (I would be surprise if they were not), and Coupla Prog I think also would fit quite snuggly under Kraut as well. Gunter Schickert could be under Electronics progressive? (not sure).

Except for the french bands & artists being from France, I Wasn't really thinking about where it belonged. You'll find Sand: Golem, but not the band Golem. And I'm quite sure the others are missing as well.

Evenin' Blackie! Reason I asked was I met a girl who fits all my criteria of 'must marry this...and quick' ! I'm thinkin' travellin' to and 'fro to Nagoya for a couple of months at least is gonna cost me a few yen. And maybe my soul.

Trivia alert: Acid Mothers Temple are from Nagoya and one of their side-projects was/were called 'Nishinihon' which means West Japan. The subtle meaning is 'We hate Tokyo'. That's country folk for you...

Yukorin wrote: Evenin' Blackie! Reason I asked was I met a girl who fits all my criteria of 'must marry this...and quick' ! I'm thinkin' travellin' to and 'fro to Nagoya for a couple of months at least is gonna cost me a few yen. And maybe my soul.

Aww... I must wish you all the best with this plight I know all about the distance relationships!

Yukorin wrote: Trivia alert: Acid Mothers Temple are from Nagoya and one of their side-projects was/were called 'Nishinihon' which means West Japan. The subtle meaning is 'We hate Tokyo'. That's country folk for you...

Talking about Acid Mother Temple I found the first two discs of Makoto Kawabata's early works from 1978. Quite interesting drawn out experimentations (not for the light of hearted). He must have only been something like 15 years old when he started doing this sort of thing. I think the disc came from some 10 disc book set which covers all his early works.  

Hey Claire, welcome back  good to see you safe and sound. Sound like I will be listening to this 'Gang of Four' sometime soon, with the rave you have given it.

Just finished watching this, amazing concert:

Koenjihyakkei - Live At Star Pine's Cafe DVD

I posted this in the RIO Drop In Center thread, but since we discussed Komintern here I thought of mentioning this here as well:

I added three bands to RIO/Avant and thought of letting you know.
These are:
- Yugen
- Komintern
- Orchestra Njervudarov

Info on each:
Yugen (taken from their myspace):
The first album by this Italian/international avant-progressive supergroup, which has been eagerly anticipated. Their stated influences should tell you all you need to know: Satie, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Cage, Reich, Zappa, Henry Cow, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Univers Zero! Very very good stuff for fans of 'rehearsal-intensive, complex avant-progressive rock. "Yugen is a musical project born during autumn of 2004 from an idea by Francesco Zago and Marcello Marinone. Four years after the end of The Night Watch, , Francesco Zago begins thinking about a synthesis between rock (progressive and RIO-style oriented) and chamber music. Thanks to the ideas and fundamental support of Marcello Marinone, the project takes its shape from a few chamber compositions, enriched with electric sounds and a rock rhythm section. The name of the project became Yugen, a japanese word – impossible to translate in its precise meaning – which expresses the aesthetic canon of japanese art, as haiku in poetry or Noh in theatre. Between December of 2004 and January of 2005 the first demo of Yugen was produced. Diego Donadio, formerly drummer of The Night Watch, contributes to the drums arrangements. In February, during an extemporaneous jam session in Tradate, the keyboard player Paolo Botta (Franch TV) and swiss saxophone player Markus Stauss (Spaltklang, Ulterior Lux) joined the group. Then Stephan Brunner, who plays electric bass in Spaltklang, and reed player Peter Schmid (Evan Parker, Vinny Golia) accept to play with Yugen. In the meantime, new compositions come out: Zago writes little acoustic pieces. To satisfy the complexity and richness of the arrangements, other instrumentalist join the band: the percussionist Massimo Mazza, Giuseppe Olivini (OZ, Contrapplugged) plays harpsichord, the classical players Maurizio Fasoli (piano), Elia Mariani (violin) and Marco Sorge (clarinets). Last arrivals, but not less important, the drummer Mattia Signò, Tommaso Leddi (Stormy Six) and U.S. drummer Dave Kerman (Thinking Plague, 5uu’s, Present, Blast, Ahvak….). The recordings began in June of 2005 and they continued until January of 2006. During the following months, Udi Koomran (Avhak, Present, Thinking Plague) worked on mixing and mastering."

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=2811


Komintern (their bio in PA):
This French band was founded by Francis Lemonnier (sax and vocals) and Serge Catalano (drums and percussions) in May 1970 after they left Red Noise due to musical and political disagreements. The name chosen gives you a clear indication as to their political views. The band released one album called “Le Bal Du Rat Mort” in 1971 and one single “Fou, roi, pantin” and were active until 1975. The musicians that joined them were Michel Musac (guitar), Olivier Zdrzalik (bass, vocals, organ and piano) and Pascal Chassin (guitar). At first they were less focused on composing only music but more on mixing it along with satiric theater – a sort of “cabaret satirique”, in order to express their extreme left views. They used their music to enhance their message, and they did it in a manner that mixed several styles of music that would fit their show and the message to be passed on to the crowd/listeners. They were related to extreme left movements such as the “Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire” and they toured in the summer of 1970 in, among other places, universities and factories that were in strike.

In July 1971 they manage to get into a recording studio of Pathé Marconi with the help and influence of Philippe Constantin et Etienne Rodagil. They are joined by guests musicians such as the Quintette de Cuivres lead by trombonist Raymond Katarzynski, trumpet players Pierre Thibaud et Fred Gérard, Joss Baselli on accordion and vocalist Jeanne de Valène. The producer Philippe Constantin does some editing of their texts and leaves out two texts that were recited without any music and replaces the booklet which featured originally a painting by Diego Ribeira.

Le Bal Du Rat Mort (The Dead Rat’s Ball) is released in December 1971 and 2000 copies are sold. This release did not exhibit the true face of the band, but it did however show their talent as musicians and as composers and ability to combine different influences. This album is a mixture of rock, free-jazz, fusion, folk, oldies tunes, chanson Francaise and a general theatrical and quirky approach to composing. The overall result is a well-done mixture of styles and atmospheres. This may not be groundbreaking but it is different than the average output of French bands at that time and can be seen as avant-garde in their musical approach in this album.

In 1972 Komintern forms “Front de Libération de la Rock-Music” along with
Lard Free, Barricade I and Barricade II, Herbe Rouge, Robert Wood's Tarot and Alpha du Centaure. This movement published a manifest in a journal and their general message was that of anti-bourgeois culture. They tried to spread their word through journals, leaflets, concerts, all arranged by Gilles Yéprémian which was the manager and producer of Lard Free and Komintern. However this movement eventually dissolved.

In 1975 Serge Catalano et Pascal Chassin left Kominern. Catalano is replaced by two drummers: Gilbert Artman de Lard Free and Michel Bourgheix. The group goes on a bit with some shows but eventually breaks up. Catalano continues with his activity in the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire. Francis Lemonnier becomes a music teacher. Richard Aubert would play with Atoll and Kool Gool. Olivier Zdrzalik would play with Malicorne and along with Michel Muzac in the Lapins bleus des îles.

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=2813


Orchestra Njervudarov (their bio in PA):
Orchestra Njervudarov was an Italian chamber rock/RIO band that released one album called Con le orecchie di Eros in 1979. However, they are rarely mentioned when RIO is discussed or even when one mentions Stormy Six, their fellow countrymen. And yet, this is an accomplished album quite deserving of recognition, especially given its year of release. This album has, as mentioned, a chamber rock/RIO sound as well as some jazz influences in it. There is one track (Rapporto Njervudarov sulla teoria degli opposti estremismi ) which is probably a sort of joke as it is a new wave/disco song and it is totally out of place here. But all the other tracks will reward the RIO/chamber rock and jazz-rock fans. This will be probably impossible to find and it’s a shame. If you do have the chance to listen to this, don’t hesitate. It might not be the best RIO album you’ll hear but it sure is worth your time.

This album was released by EMI and got poor promotion and due to its limited edition got quickly out of stock and so was not known to many people. It has never been reissued on vinyl or CD.

Band members were from Bologna and Marche. The bassist Roberto Costa and guitarist Bruno Mariani have collaborated with Lucio Dalla (singer, songwriter, clarinet and keyboards). Drummer Adriano Pedini still plays jazz and has done many session recordings.

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=2812




All are recommended, but for those who want something new, Yugen should please your listening "buds".

Nice 'fro

 

'Outside The Dream Syndicate' ? Buy it BV ! Stunning record. Every bit as good as your favourite Faust masterpieces !