Aksak Maboul

The Profile

Aksak Maboul is a Belgian experimental group founded in 1977 by Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis. They debuted with Onze danses pour combattre la migraine (1977) and followed with Un peu de l’âme des bandits (1980), featuring contributions from Chris Cutler and Fred Frith. After a long hiatus, the project resurfaced with Ex-Futur Album (2014) and the studio album Figures (2020). Hollander later founded the Brussels label Crammed Records.

Belgian experimental/avant-prog group formed by Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis in 1977; early work intersects with the RIO milieu; collaborators include Chris Cutler and Fred Frith; associated with Crammed Records; also known as Aqsak Maboul; active with releases spanning 1977–present.

Aksak Maboul’s 1977 debut is praised as a kaleidoscopic, European-rooted blend of electronics, jazz, cabaret and more. The review highlights founders Marc/Mark Hollander and Vincent Kenis, the project’s lab-like openness, and links to Henry Cow/Slapp Happy/Zappa. It notes Cutler and Frith’s role on the 1980 follow-up and the name’s Turkish/French etymology. Crammed Records and a Nurse With Wound nod also surface.