WAPASSOU “S/T”
 "The
ancient fathers of post-rock? The least
skillful prog band ever? The answer is
somewhere in between: through
obsessive symphonies Wapassou show that
there is no clear mark between
depressive madness, cold fever, and
music making." —Mutant Sounds.
Lest we startle you with excited
pronouncements of how good this
album is, we'll force ourselves to be
matter of fact. With their first album,
legendary French art-rock band Wapassou
found a distinctive musical voice:
long and well-developed melodies,
rhythmic support from organ—no bass and
drums! (more on
that later)—prominent violin parts,
and guitar doubling-up as a rhythm
instrument. They often conjure up
something akin to what it might have
sounded like had John Cale and Stereolab
formed a band in 1974, when this album
was released. The five tracks
(actually seven, as the singles tracks
are equally intriguing) are highly
original, always varied
and inventive; spacey and ethereal,
but steeped in post-psychedelic
rock. Although Wapassou are noted
for playing without a rhythm section,
two of the most striking songs on this
album have bass and drums. Why some
enterprising dj hasn't created a chill
mix from the drum track and provocative
vocals on 'Chatiment' (guitarist Karen
Nickerl murmuring about the cigarettes
she has consumed and that she is a
killer, 'Je suis l’assassin,' in the
midst of the pulsing drone of the band),
we don't know. The 13+ minute long
'Trip' is a revelation: the first two
minutes will think you stumbled into the
Cocteau Twin's 'Victorialand'; the band
then jam for six and a half minutes
before they drop one of the trippiest
ethereal breakbeat grooves you'll ever
hear; the last two minutes of solo sitar
are sonic lysergia of the highest
quality. A unique style throughout,
with slight nods to groups like Amon
Düul, Popol Vuh, Czar, Caravan, and Ash
Ra Tempel. Includes two
bonus tracks from their rare
single, recorded in October 1974. A
colorful 16-page booklet has the
detailed history of the making of
the album, plus photos and other
marvels. Remastered and sounding better
than it ever has.
•Fancy digipack edition of legendary
French art rock masterpiece
•Seven intriguing tracks,
highly original, varied
and inventive; spacey and ethereal,
steeped in post-psychedelic rock.
•Limited to 500 copies
Track List
01. Mélopée (3:59)
02. Rien (10:38)
03. Musillusion (3:54)
04. Châtiment (6:48)
05. Trip (13:37)
Bonus tracks:
06. Femmes-fleeurs (2:42)
07. Borgia (2:22)
Catalogue number: LION 684
UPC: 778578068424
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