Aksak Maboul
| Company type | Ensemble / Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Marc Hollander, Vincent Kenis |
| Headquarters | Brussels , Belgium |
Key people | Marc Hollander, Véronique Vincent, Vincent Kenis |
| Products | Avant-rock music albums |
| Website | crammed |
Aksak Maboul is a Belgian avant-rock ensemble established in 1977 by Marc Hollander alongside Vincent Kenis, later becoming primarily driven by Hollander and Véronique Vincent. Over time, the group has undergone continual transformation with Hollander remaining the only consistent member, delving into a wide array of musical genres.
Their debut works include Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine (1977) and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits (1980), the latter featuring former Henry Cow musicians Chris Cutler and Fred Frith. In 1979, they took part in the Rock in Opposition movement.
Following a three-decade pause beginning in the mid-1980s, during which Hollander concentrated on managing his Crammed Discs label, Aksak Maboul reactivated in 2014 by finalizing their incomplete third album, Ex-Futur Album (credited to Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul), originally recorded between 1980 and 1983. Since then, the band—now centered on Hollander, Vincent, and Faustine Hollander—has toured extensively and released new projects, including the double album Figures in 2020 and the experimental audio play Une Aventure de VV (Songspiel) in March 2023.
History
Aksak Maboul originated in 1977 when producer Marc Moulin commissioned Marc Hollander to create an album for Kamikaze Records. Hollander invited Vincent Kenis to collaborate; together they produced Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine, an eclectic fusion of improvised jazz, ethnic rhythms, electronic elements, and classical music. This predominantly instrumental record anticipated musical directions that would later be embraced by Hollander’s Crammed Discs label.
By late 1977, Aksak Maboul expanded their live performances by incorporating musicians from Univers Zéro. In 1979, Hollander brought in Chris Cutler and Fred Frith—members of the now-defunct avant-rock band Henry Cow—to contribute to their sophomore album, Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits, issued on Crammed Discs, a label founded by Hollander that same year. This release showcased a more experimental approach, combining intricate compositions with ambient soundscapes and early sampling techniques across styles such as tango, Turkish music, chamber rock, and punk.
The group became part of the Rock in Opposition movement, appearing at a 1979 RIO festival held in Milan. Early in 1980, the original duo merged with members of Brussels’ Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel to form The Honeymoon Killers. While initially touring Europe under the Aksak Maboul name, they issued an album as The Honeymoon Killers in 1981 and continued touring extensively over the next four years.
During this era, Hollander and vocalist Véronique Vincent crafted electronic avant-pop compositions intended as Aksak Maboul’s third album; although announced in early Crammed Discs catalogs, this project remained unfinished until its eventual release in 2014 as Ex-Futur Album. A single from these sessions titled "I'm Always Crying" was released under Vincent’s name in 1983.
The band’s final release of the 1980s appeared on the compilation Made to Measure Vol. 1 (1984), contributing original material composed for a theatrical production about Maïakovsky. They performed once more in New York in 1986 before suspending regular activity. Meanwhile, Hollander and Kenis remained active producing numerous albums for Crammed Discs and also created electronic dance music under the name Mr Big Mouse during the late 1980s.
In 2010, Aksak Maboul contributed "Land Dispute" to the tribute compilation Tradi-Mods vs Rockers, offering a reinterpretation of a piece originally by Congolese ensemble Kasai Allstars.
Returning to work on their third album in 2014, Hollander completed Ex-Futur Album alongside Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul. Following favorable reviews, they reformed with additional members for live shows starting in 2015.
October 2016 saw the release of 16 Visions of Ex-Futur, an album featuring reinterpretations by artists including Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Laetitia Sadier, Flavien Berger, among others, along with self-covers performed by Aksak Maboul’s lineup.
At the close of 2018, creation began on a new double album entitled Figures, which was released in May 2020. Composed by Hollander and Vincent and produced by Hollander himself, it incorporated contributions from Fred Frith, Steven Brown (Tuxedomoon), and members of Aquaserge.
Late 2021 brought two vinyl releases of remixed tracks from Figures: Redrawn Figures 1 and Redrawn Figures 2. These featured artists such as The Notwist and Cate Le Bon alongside reworkings by Aksak Maboul.
Their fifth studio effort, Une Aventure de VV (Songspiel), debuted in March 2023 as a continuous experimental audio play suite.
Véronique Vincent passed away on 5 October 2025 at age 68 after completing vocal recordings for the band’s forthcoming album slated for release within the following year.
Members
- Marc Hollander – keyboards, woodwinds, percussion instruments, drum machine
- Vincent Kenis – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion (1977–1978, 1980–1986)
- Véronique Vincent (fr) – lead vocals (1980–2025; until her passing)
Temporary members and guests
- Marc Moulin – keyboards (1977)
- Chris Joris – keyboards, soprano saxophone (1977–1978)
- Catherine Jauniaux – vocals (1977, 1979)
- Frank Wuyts – percussion, keyboards (1977–1979)
- Michel Berckmans – bassoon, oboe (1978–1980)
- Denis van Hecke – cello (1978–1979)
- Geoff Leigh – saxophones (1978–1979)
- Guigou Chenevier – drums (1978)
- Fred Frith – guitars, bass (1979)
- Chris Cutler – drums (1979)
- Bob Vanderbob – saxophones (1979)
- Alig Fodder — bass guitar (1980)
- Yvon Vromman – guitar, vocals (1980–1981)
- Gérald Fenerberg – guitar (1980–1981, 1986)
- Jean-François Jones Jacob III – drums (1980–1981)
- Clément Marion – guitar (2010)
- Faustine Hollander – guitar, bass, vocals (2010, 2015–present)
- Sebastiaan Van den Branden – guitar, bass, synthesizer (2015–2017)
- Christophe Claeys – drums (2015)
- Erik Heestermans – drums, percussion (2016–present)
- Lucien Fraipont – guitar (2016–present)
- Benjamin Glibert – guitar (2016)
- Julien Gasc – keyboards, vocals (2016)
Studio albums
- Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine (LP released in 1977 by Kamikaze Records; reissued in 1980 and 2015 on Crammed Discs)
- Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits (LP from 1980 on Crammed Discs; CD edition in 1995; LP reissue in 2018 including a 10-track bonus album titled Before And After Bandits)
- Ex-Futur Album by Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul (available on CD/LP in 2014 via Crammed Discs)
- Figures (double LP and double CD released in 2020 by Crammed Discs)
- Une Aventure de VV (Songspiel) (2LP/CD formats issued in 2023 through Crammed Discs/Made To Measure)
- Before Aksak Maboul (documents & experiments 1969-1977) (LP/CD/digital release planned for 2025 on CrammedLab)
Remix albums
- 16 Visions of Ex-Futur by Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul (CD/LP issued in 2016 by Crammed Discs): features reinterpretations from artists such as Laetitia Sadier, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Aquaserge, Flavien Berger, Lena Willikens, Forever Pavot, Burnt Friedman, Nite Jewel, among others.
- Redrawn Figures 1 & 2 (two LPs released in 2020 on Crammed Discs): includes reworkings by The Notwist, Cate Le Bon, Vanishing Twin, Felix Kubin, Kate NV, Tolouse Low Trax, Matias Aguayo, plus four self-remixes by Aksak Maboul.
Appears on
- Various artists: Recommended Records Sampler (double LP from 1982) – features Aksak Maboul / The Honeymoon Killers with the track "Boss De Crosses Dans Le Doulos".
- Various artists: Made to Measure Vol. 1 (LP released in 1984) – includes seven new pieces by Aksak Maboul.
- The Honeymoon Killers: Les Tueurs De La Lune De Miel CD reissue contains four live bonus tracks performed by Aksak Maboul / The Honeymoon Killers.
- Various artists: Tradi-Mods vs Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics (2CD set from 2010) – features an Aksak Maboul reinterpretation of a track originally by Kasai Allstars.
- Various artists: Give Me New Noise – Half-Mute Reflected (LP+CD issued in 2016) – includes an Aksak Maboul cover of Tuxedomoon's Tritone.
Aksak Maboul in the press
- The Belgian avant-garde ensemble Aksak Maboul has consistently stood out for their unparalleled innovation (The Quietus, UK)
Regarding the re-release of Onze danses pour combattre la migraine:
- An influential album... remarkably ahead of its era (Gilles Peterson)
- A genuinely exceptional and visionary creation (The Arts Desk, UK)
*Among the most captivating post-punk records... enduringly relevant (FACT, UK)
- An amalgamation of imagined world music, rock, electronic sounds, and early techno elements (MOJO, UK)
Concerning the reissue of Un peu de l'âme des bandits:
- Imagine Pere Ubu collaborating with Faust interpreting Stravinsky (Byte FM, DE)
- Diverse, innovative, whimsical, and surreal... a must-have (The Wire, UK)
- Where jazz intersects with avant-garde classical and crisp electronics (Uncut, UK)
- A complex fusion of modern classical and free jazz experimentation (Pitchfork, USA)
On Ex-Futur Album:
- A dreamy pop experience that feels weightless (The Quietus, UK)
*An electropop marvel... once too progressive, now perfectly timed (les Inrockuptibles, FR) *Charmingly incomplete and delightfully flawed (Vogue, DE) *So far ahead it resonates as contemporary music today (The Crack, UK)
Regarding Figures:
- Delves into intricate gender themes across an ambitious double album format (Pitchfork, US)
- Stylized transformations uniting fresh sounds in intellectually stimulating ways (Pop Matters, US)
- Creative arrangements and programming with broad appeal (The Wire, UK)
- Seventy-five minutes of genre-defying enjoyment; Aksak’s adventurous spirit remains intact (Uncut, UK)
- A seamless fusion of pop and avant-garde elements; irresistibly danceable (The Quietus, UK)
- A masterclass in modern pop that blends experimentation with catchy melodies (Les Inrockuptibles, FR)
- A revival of a boundary-pushing band weaving poetic songwriting into pop frameworks (Le Monde, FR)
*Offers more musical and lyrical profundity than many achieve over decades (Libération, FR) *Emphasizes playful experimentation and joyous creativity; infectious pleasures (ByteFM, DE)
Regarding recent live performances:
- A remarkable comeback: Aksak Maboul returns with synthetic yet organic pop featuring captivating grooves and sparkling melodies—evoking Brigitte Fontaine and Tom Tom Club (Télérama, FR)
- Pop immediacy enriched by experimental explorations in electronic music, krautrock, and jazz elevates their live shows to exceptional levels (Le Soir, BE)
See also
External links
- .
- Aksak Maboul pages at the Crammed Discs website.
- .
- Aksak Maboul on Myspace.
- Aqsak Maboul / Marc Hollander Chris Cutler homepage.