FACE AUX ELÉMENTS DECHAINÉS

It's really interesting how all of the bands that started the RIO movement in 1978 managed to fade away by the middle of the '80s. Actually Henry Cow broke up as early as 1978 but I sort of consider Art Bears to be a natural continuation of that band since it was comprised of Chris Cutler, Fred Frith and Dagmar Krause. Unfortunately they still were the first RIO band to end their collaboration by 1981. Stormy Six broke up in 1983, Samla Mammas Manna or rather Lars Hollmer's new band incarnation, before switching to solo mode, von Zamla split up in 1984, while Daniel Denis slight loss of inspiration, notable on Heatwave, resulted in Univers Zero disbanding around 1987.

By August 1985, Etron Fou Leloublan were still going strong and, without a replacement in the saxophone department, recorded Face Aux Eléments Dechainés as a (power)trio. The trio that comprised of the long time collaborators Ferdinand Richard/Guigou Chenevier and Jo Thirion, who has already previously recorded two albums with the band, managed to uphold the general spirit of Etron Fou Leloublan even if the loss of a soloist does make its presences known on a few occasions. Luckily Fred Frith managed to add a few colorful touches to the album which are especially notable on Blanc, another composition that was previously featured on the band's live album En Public Aux États-Unis d'Amérique.

Overall this album is much better produced than anything that the band had release up to this point and becomes especially notable on the album's opening track Lavés À La Machine by the clear attention to detail. The slow progression of this opener might surprise most of band's followers and it's not until the vocal introduction that we actually beginning to realize that we're listening to an album by Etron Fou Leloublan! This is definitely not the case with the rest of this release and Tous Le Poussent quickly returns us to the right frame of mind, even though I cannot help but wonder how the band would have adapted the chamber music influences if they continued pushing in that direction for the remainder of Face Aux Eléments Dechainés.

Although, for some weird reason, this release has been my least played album from Etron Fou Leloublan, it definitely deserves my seal of approval for being a great conclusion to the legacy of an excellent RIO band. Etron Fou Leloublan broke up in 1986 and it's very unlikely that we'll get to hear of a reunion of this otherwise very obscure collective that doesn't even have its own Wikipedia page in French!

***** star songs: Lavés À La Machine (4:19) Blanc (4:14) Binet D'eau Froide (0:19)

**** star songs: Tous Le Poussent (3:39) Hors De Son Monde (4:01) Paris 65 (4:05) Sous Les Draps (3:53) Comment Choisir Son Infirmière (3:15) Gifle Hubert (4:45) Plus Rien Ne Nous Retient Dans Ce Pays (3:44) Mon Petit Chorus (4:12)

This band is such a blast to listen to with their sense of humour and absolutely amazing instrumental work. I especially am impressed with the bass playing, it's just outstanding but all three are incredible musicians. Some humerous pictures of the band in the liner notes especially the guys who are making these faces at the camera.This was their last studio album and second in a row with Fred Frith producing, he also adds some violin.

"Lavees A La Machine" opens with bass as the sax makes some noise. Male and female vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. Keyboards after 2 minutes when the vocals stop. Percussion and male spoken words follow. "Tous Le Poussent" has this beat with male vocals and organ. Sax after 2 minutes. "Hors De Son Monde" has this beat of piano, bass and drums while the sax plays over top. A change before 2 minutes as the keyboards, bass and drums become the focus. "Paris 65" has these theatrical male vocals and a catchy rhythm. I like when the vocals stop and the organ, bass and drums lead. "Sous Les Draps" opens with these cool drum patterns as the organ and female spoken words help out. Bass joins in when the vocals stop. She's back before 2 1/2 minutes. It's surprisingly spacey late.

"Comment Choisir Son Infirmiere" is catchy with male vocals, love the bass. "Gifle Hubert" is pretty much spoken male words with an excellent melody of bass, drums and keyboards.The vocals start yelling at one point. Check out the bass after 3 1/2 minutes ! "Blanc" has some guest violin from Frith while drums,vocals and organ open.The organ starts to pulsate as the bass throbs. It's heavier before 3 1/2 minutes as she really sings. "Binet D'eau Froide" is a very short instrumental. "Plus Rien Ne Nous Retient Dans Ce Pays" has some great in your face bass as the vocals join in. It settles back after 1 1/2 minutes but kicks back in quickly. "Mon Petit Chorus" has this catchy beat with female vocals. Deep male vocals take over.The organ is excellent after 3 minutes.

I own the last three studio albums by this band and they are all so impressive. Highly recommended Avant / Rio from one the original Rio bands.