Present - Le Poison Qui Rend Fou (1985)

Discordant Belgian RIO led by Univers Zero cofounder Roger Trigaux. Anxious, driving, pointedly scattered pieces fueled by queasy, jazz-informed guitar-piano interplay. Wouldn't sound at all out of place soundtracking a semi-coherent giallo flick.

Track listing:

1. Le Poison Qui Rend Fou, Part 1: Ram Ram Ram Va Faire "Pif Paf"

2. Ersatz

3. Le Poison Qui Rend Fou, Part 2: Didi, Dans Ta Chambre!

4. Samana

They must lie awake and watch themselves die

Also listen to:

Maneige - Les Porches (1975)

Art Zoyd - Berlin (1987)

Miriodor - Miriodor (1988)

I'm back! Had this post locked and ready to post while I was away, but vacation life took over and I temporarily forgot about the internet. Excellent sophomore album by these Canadian RIO purveyors. Disjointed, queasy, but propulsive instrumentals played on unsettlingly synthetic keyboards and decidedly un-synthetic saxophones and percussion. I'm including the bonus tracks because the first vinyl press of this record is the only version that doesn't include them so to me they feel like part of the proper album.

Track listing:

1. Regards / Regards

2. Spirale / Spiral

3. March Funèbre / Funeral March

4. Valence / Valence

5. Piège / Trap

6. Suspicion / Suspicion

7. Insomnie Prèmonitoire / Premonitory Insomnia

8. Réseau / Network

9. En Attendant Rémi / Waiting for Remi

10. Pleine Lune / Full Moon

11. Suspicion / Suspicion

12. Oriflamme / Oriflamme

13. Convoi Nocturne / Nocturnal Procession

14. Moyen Âge / Middle Ages

Langage de lézard

If you like this, you're a nerd, and you should also listen to:

Maneige - Les Porches (1975)

Art Zoyd - Berlin (1987)

Art Zoyd - Berlin (1987)

A dark, dense, dissonant cacophony generated by a big ol' pile o' instruments, including synths, strings, horns, organ, piano, and percussion, with structurally ambitious, experimental compositions to boot. Someone please explain to me how it's possible that this is the first time I've posted Art Zoyd on here?

Track listing:
1. Epithalame
2. Baboon's Blood
3. Petite Messe a l'Usage des Pharmaciens - Offertoire
4. Petite Messe a l'Usage des Pharmaciens - Kyrie
5. A Drum, a Drum
6. Petite Messe a l'Usage des Pharmaciens - Introit
7. Unsex Me Here

Don't lose your head

You'd probably also like:

Univers Zero -
Ceux du Dehors (1983)

Un Festín Sagital ‎-
Sic Deus Dilexit Mundum (2012)

Univers Zero - Ceux du Dehors (1981)

Third album from this dark, challenging Belgian prog outfit. Dissonant, asymmetrical melodies, odd time signatures, and an overall sense of menacing, barely contained chaos.

Track listing:
1. Dense
2. La Corne du Bois des Pendus
3. Bonjour Chez Vous
4. Combat
5. La Musique D'erich Zann
6. La Tete du Corbeau
7. Triomphe des Mouches

Those from the outside