Débile Menthol - Émile Au Jardin Patrologique (1981)

Awangardowy zespól Débile Menthol kojarzony najczęściej z nurtem Rock in Opposition, założony został w 1979 roku w Szwajcarii . Na ich dyskografię składają się dwie długogrające płyty pełne rozmaitych wpływów i zapożyczeń: debiut z 1981 roku zatytułowany "Émile Au Jardin Patrologique" oraz wydana w 1984 roku "Bättre Campagne".

Pierwsza płyta dostarcza nam barwną mieszankę awangadowego rocka, jazzu, niewielkich ilości śródziemnomorskiego folku a nawet muzyki neoklasycznej. Utwory są zróżnicowane pod względem kompozycji i aranżacji, zagrane w efektownym stylu pełnym energii i dowcipu. Słuchacze gustujący w muzycznych eksperymentach, podanych jednak w przystępny sposób, przy wydawnictwie tym z pewnością nie powinni się nudzić.

Francois Liegme - drums

Patrice Dupasquier - saxophones

Cedric P. Vuille - clarinet, guitar, drums

Yvan G. Chkolnix - bass, guitar

Marie C. Schwab - violin, vocals

Christian G. Addor - keyboards, bass, vocals

Gilles Vincent Rieder - drums, bass, percussions, vocals

Jean-Maurice Rossel - bass, guitars

Jean-Vincent Huguenin - guitars, percussions, vocals

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. (Dave Lynch)

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