Etron Fou Leloublan
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Chris Chanet |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Avant-garde rock music |
Etron Fou Leloublan (translated from French as "Crazy Shit, The White Wolf"), commonly abbreviated as EFL, was a French avant-garde rock ensemble established in 1973 by actor and saxophonist Chris Chanet. Over their active years, they produced five studio records from 1976 through 1985, along with a live album titled En Public Aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique, which was captured during their 1979 tour across the United States. EFL stood among the original five bands participating in the inaugural Rock in Opposition (RIO) festival held in London in March 1978.
Their sound was an eclectic fusion incorporating punk rock, jazz, traditional French music hall, satirical comedy, and avant-garde influences.
History
Initially called Etron Fou,[1] the group started as a trio featuring vocalist and saxophonist Eulalie Ruynat (Chris Chanet), bassist Ferdinand Richard, and drummer Guigou Chenevier. Their first live appearance took place on 27 December 1973, where they opened for the French progressive rock act Magma. Their mission was to introduce an innovative alternative to the then-stagnant French rock and free jazz scenes.[2] In November 1976, they adopted the name Etron Fou Leloublan and recorded their debut album, Batelages (released in 1977); Chanet departed prior to this album's release.
By late 1977, Francis Grand had succeeded Chanet on saxophone, and the trio completed their second record, Les Trois Fous Perdégagnent (Au Pays Des...). In March 1978, following an invitation from the English avant-garde band Henry Cow, EFL joined the RIO movement and performed at its first festival in London alongside four other groups.[3] They also took part in the second RIO festival held in Milan in April 1979. During their November 1979 U.S. tour, performances in New York City and Hartford, Connecticut were recorded for the live album En Public aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique.
In 1980, EFL expanded into a quartet with Bernard Mathieu replacing Grand on saxophone and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jo Thirion joining the lineup. That same year, they collaborated with ex-Henry Cow guitarist Fred Frith in France and Switzerland; Frith appeared on his 1981 solo album Speechless and produced EFL's subsequent release, Les Poumons Gonflés (1982), while also contributing violin and guitar parts. For their fifth studio effort, Les Sillons de la Terre (1984), Bruno Meillier took over saxophone duties from Mathieu.
The band's last album, Face Aux Éléments Déchaînés (1985), was recorded as a trio featuring Richard, Thirion, and Chenevier without any saxophonist. Fred Frith returned as producer and guest musician on four tracks. The group dissolved in 1986.
Members
- Ferdinand Richard – bass guitar, vocals
- Guigou Chenevier – drums, percussion
- Chris Chanet (Eulalie Ruynat) (1973–1976) – vocals, saxophone
- Francis Grand (1976–1978) – saxophone
- Gérard Bole Du Chaumont (1978) – saxophone
- Bernard Mathieu (1979–1982) – saxophone
- Jo Thirion (1980–1986) – organ, piano, trumpet
- Bruno Meillier (1982–1983) – saxophone
Studio albums
- Batelages (1977, LP, Gratte-Ciel)
- Les Trois Fous Perdégagnent (Au Pays Des...) (1978, LP, Tapioca)
- Les Poumons Gonflés (1982, LP, Turbo)
- Les Sillons de la Terre (1984, LP, Le Chant du Monde)
- Face Aux Éléments Déchaînés (1985, LP, RecRec Music)
Live Recordings
- En Public aux États-Unis d'Amérique (1979, LP, Celluloid Records)
- À Prague (2010, CD, Gazul)
- Live at the Rock in Opposition Festival 1978 (2015, Replica Records)
Collections
- 43 Songs (1991, triple CD box set, Baillemont) – features the complete studio album catalogue
Featured on
- Miniatures - a sequence of fifty-one tiny masterpieces, curated by Morgan-Fisher (1980, LP, Pipe)
- Speechless by Fred Frith (1981, LP, Ralph Records)