FIRED

Released as a musical testament, this recording dates from April 20th, 96 (the Cactusclub in Bruges) and is an incredible witness of the live power of the group. This was recorded for a live Radio Een Programme Cucamonga broadcast, which explains the excellent sound quality and the seriously faded out public applauses.

Still with an absurd humour (look at the sleeve upside down, it makes much more sense), the group goes through their whole career with an amazing five tracks from their debut album (if you count the Charo Calvo collab) and even have time for a fitting Zappa tribute with the superb City Of Tiny Lites sung out by Mondelaers (his voice although not that memorable is sometimes all too rare). The other highlight being the Nullo problemo, a slow blues-up improv with an infectious groove. However the original eponymous track XLS I feel was much more interesting in its studio version, even if completely different on this record.

A fitting farewell from one of the craziest band around, even if the tracks selection is a bit odd, IMHO.

This is an excellent album. I own this and Killed by Charity. This is the better of the two by far IMO. The whole album has a live feel (no pun). From the first track i knew this was a band i wanted to see live. Their presence was felt, and their music was great. They have their horn melodies that are pretty much flawless. Unison parts played with ease. This album was an excellent one. From Zippo Raid to F%&# and Coffee, Xls is sure to please any avant garde fan. a must have.

So this is the swan song of X-Legged Sally! The last time we can realize how good the Vermeersch-Vervloesem association was. Sally would later be sent to a Flat Earth Society without Pierre and both men would each in their corner keep writing great music! Fired is a live recording and on several points a reminder of how close to Zappa's universe the music was; first, the radio program broadcasting the concert was called Cucamonga; secondly, the orchestral mass smells like many instrumental Zappa recordings, same thinking about dynamics and harmonies; third, there is even time for a tribute with the integration of the tune "City of Tiny Lites". But where Zappa's music favours a groovy flow (even complex ones), X-Legged Sallly really shines out in digging in depth intricate broken cross- rhythms, angular melodic lines and subtle humoristic twists (where Zappa's musical humour is more a cream pie straight on your face, like in silent movies). X-Legged Sally is full of resources and not all albums are that much Zappaesque; Fired is maybe THE album closest to Zappa's music; it is also an incredible energetic album played at full speed and giving you all for your money! So bye and long live X-Legged Sally!