NOUVELLES ETHNOLOGIQUES DE L'OBSCUR MUSEUM

Nouvelles Ethnologiques de L'Obscur Museum biography
Nouvelles Ethnologique de L'Obscur (NEO) Museum was a continuation of the group Hellebore. After the latter folded, guitarist Antoine Gindt, sax/clarinet player Alain Casari, and drummer Daniel Koskowitz formed this new outfit and released a single album in 1985. Unfortunately, this incarnation did not last either, but were fortunate to at least have a single record of their efforts. The music is influenced by RIO pioneers such as Henry Cow and Etron Fou Leloublan.

As for the album, it is a smorgasbord of maniacal Henry Cow soundscapes bouncing from pillar to post and never letting up with its catchy jazzifications and unintellectual punches of avant-garde saxophone and Frithian guitar. A delirious display of dashing Krimsionesque doodlings is also present on track 2 (Un sidérurgie no.1). Think In the Court of the Crimson King buttressed against some Larks' Tongues in Aspic and Western Culture and you should get a feel of how much of this album sounds. Track 3 (Un sidérurgie no.5) sounds very much like an abandoned Nucleus or Graham Collier track and has a very catchy riff to it. The sax work is impeccable and reminds me of a crazier David Jackson. The bass work is also very interesting and wanders around in the background yet is a vital cog in the motion that is Nouvelles Ethnologique de L'Obscur Museum.

Thanks to James for his contributions to this biography.