Henry Cow was an English avant-garde rock and free-jazz band that released four studio albums between 1973 and 1975 on Virgin: Legend, Unrest, Desperate Straights, and In Praise of Learning, the last two in partnership with the cabaret-pop trio Slapp Happy. In 1978, Henry Cow recorded the albums Western Culture and Hopes and Fears — […]
Aksak Maboul — alternately spelled Aqsak Maboul — were a Belgian ensemble that released two albums during the late 1970s. The project was headed by multi-instrumentalist Marc Hollander and featured a revolving door of talent from both sides of the channel, including members of Placebo, Cos, and Henry Cow. Members: Marc Hollander (clarinet, drum machine, […]
Univers Zéro is a Belgian chamber-rock/Zeuhl ensemble that has been sporadically active since the mid-1970s. Led from its inception by drummer Daniel Denis, the group released five albums between 1977 and 1986. After a decade-length pause in activity, the nameplate relit at the cusp of the millennium. Members: Daniel Denis (drums, keyboards), Guy Segers (bass, […]
Art Zoyd were a French avant-garde/chamber-rock ensemble that was active from the dawn of the 1970s through the early 21st century. Between 1976 and 1987, the band released seven albums of original material. During the 1990s, they sporadically issued soundtracks. Members: Rocco Fernandez (guitar, vocals, 1969-75), Patrick Zoltek (guitar, 1969-71), Jean-Paul Dulion (bass, 1969-71), Claude […]
Samla Mammas Manna was a Swedish avant-garde/trad band that released five albums on Silence between 1971 and 1980. In 1976, the band collaborated with U.S.-born Scandinavian composer Gregory Allan Fitzpatrick, recording his four-part Snorungarnas Symfoni for the MNW label. On the band’s 1978–80 releases, the nameplate appears as Zamla Mammaz Manna. Accordionist/bandleader Lars Hollmer and guitarist Coste […]
Stormy Six were an Italian avant-garde/art-rock band from Milano, Lombardia, formed in 1966. The band issued three pop singles on Mini Records in 1967, followed by two albums on Ariston-subsidiary First between 1969 and 1972. In 1975, a revamped Stormy Six released the album Un Biglietto del Tram on L’Orchestra, a small-press started by frontman […]
Etron fou Leloublan were a French avant-rock band that released two albums on Gratte-Ciel and 9H 17 Productions circa 1977/78, followed by three albums on Turbo Music S.A. and RecRec/AYAA between 1982 and 1986. Members: Guigou Chenevier (drums), Ferdinand Richard (bass, vocals), Chris Chanet [aka Eulalie Ruynat] (saxophone, vocals, 1973-76), Francis Grand (saxophone, 1976), Bernard […]
