DEBILE MENTHOL EMILE AU JARDIN PATROLOGIQUE LPCategory / Style / Moods: Rock Avantgarde, Prog Rock, Contemporary Jazz * Avant-Prog * Experimental Rock Moods * Amiable/ Good-Natured * Complex * Confident * Exuberant * Freewheeling * Playful * Quirky49.75 / 2008-01-16 S asocc1981 RECREC MUSIC SWITZERLAND LPTITLE: EMILE AU JARDIN PATROLOGIQUEARTIST: DEBILE MENTHOLCONDITIONCOVER: VGVINYL: VG+ OR BETTERClick here for info on grading and abbreviationsOUT OF PRINT ORIGINAL PRESS COMPLETE WITH LYRIC SHEETClick the pix for a better view TRACKS: Disc: 1 1.Stamoï De Cousu1:042.Très Amusant, Major8:053.Tante Agathe1:574.Coupe-Rose1:565.Spacio Cib.7:186.Rien1:547.A Nos Mamans4:438.Mort Aux Dahus3:049.La Jupe5:4910.Je Regarde Par La Fenêtre3:4111.Crash Que Peut4:21Label: RecRec Music Catalog#: RecRec 01 Format: Vinyl, LP Country: Switzerland Released: 1981 Genre: Jazz, Rock Style: Avantgarde, Prog Rock, Contemporary Jazz Credits: Bass - Christian Addor , Gilles Rieder , Ivan Chkolnix , Jean-Maurice Rossel Clarinet - Cédric Vuille Drums - Cédric Vuille , François Liègme , Gilles Rieder Engineer - Bubu Steiner , Etienne Conod , Robert Vogel Guitar - Cédric Vuille , Ivan Chkolnix , Jean 20 Huguenin , Jean-Maurice Rossel Keyboards - Christian Addor Percussion - Gilles Rieder , Jean 20 Huguenin Producer - Debile Menthol Saxophone - Jean-Maurice Rossel Violin - Marie Schwab Voice - Christian Addor , Gilles Rieder , Jean 20 Huguenin , Marie Schwab Notes: Recorded October 1981 at Sunrise Studio, Kirchberg. Biography by Dave Lynch Even for aficionados of European avant rock of the '70s and '80s, certainly a specialized batch of listeners, the Swiss ensemble Débile Menthol could be considered a cult band. One might think that their rather user-friendly brand of avant-gardism would have led to a reasonably sizable audience, but alas, that was not to be the case. Nevertheless, several bandmembers persevered during the following decades straight into the 2000s, and the music of these artists -- while remaining known only to a small audience worldwide -- remains some of the most engaging and satisfying blends of the modern and traditional to be heard anywhere. Forming in Neuchatel, Switzerland, the first incarnation of Débile Menthol featured a nine-person lineup on saxophone, violin, clarinet, guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, drums, and vocals, a somewhat unwieldy crew of multi-instrumentalists who performed in a Rock in Opposition-influenced style. In fact, the band released its first album, Emile au Jardin Patrologique (recorded in Kirchberg, Switzerland, in October 1981) as the first vinyl LP of the Zurich-based RecRec Music, affiliated with the British Recommended Records label founded by Chris Cutler in 1978. While incorporating experimental elements informed by such RIO bands as Henry Cow, Univers Zero, and Art Zoyd, Emile au Jardin Patrologique also revealed Débile Menthol to be a group with a decidedly lighter and even fun-loving approach, perhaps akin to another RIO band, Sweden's Samla Mammas Manna. But in fact, one might also hear the influence of new wave party bands in Débile Menthol's multi-layered yet high-spirited music -- imagine a mash-up of Henry Cow and the B-52's, as hard as that might be to fathom. It would take three years for Débile Menthol to record and release their second album, 1984's Battre Campagne, the sixth disc issued by RecRec. By now, the group had been reduced from a nine-piece to a seven-piece lineup, although two "guests" appeared individually on two separate tracks. The sound of this album de-emphasized the reeds in favor of a more vocal-oriented approach, including more opportunities for vocals from violinist Marie C. Schwab, at times sounding as if influenced by the spacy Gilli Smyth of Gong. A bit punkier and less complex although still marked by a pair of excellent albeit brief instrumental tracks, Battre Campagne was another strong release from Débile Menthol and seemingly one that might have garnered interest among adventurous rock listeners at the time. It would prove to be Débile Menthol's final release. However, later in the '80s guitarist/bassist Jean-Maurice "Momo" Rossel and guitarist Jean-20 Huguenin would join together with Slovenian accordionist Bratko Bibic (Begnagrad, Accordion Tribe) and, from across the Atlantic, cellist Tom Cora and drummer Pippin Barnett of N.Y.C. downtown supergroup Curlew to form Nimal, one of the decade's most exciting avant rock-folk-world-jazz-whatever This exquisite piece of retro music history is a vinyl sound recording (not a CD). Please visit the A Sound Deal store for similar items and information on grading and shipping. Add me to your favorites for red hot sales bulletins and sneak previews of upcoming products. Combine Items to Save $$$! Click here to check the store for more!©A Sound Deal
