'In the 1980s, the world was still living in a Cold War climate and the threat of a nuclear apocalypse was very real until the Berlin Wall came crumbling down in 1989. This was our generation, our time and this was when we began creating our marginal, electro-noise, outsider music. We did it for ourselves and did it our way! We were in the right place at the right time!'

~Vava and Zilon (aka Sensitiv Organz)~

The musician and performance artist Vava Vol met Zilon Lazer, the edgy graffiti artist and noiser during the raucous 1980s art, alt rock, punk, no-wave counterculture scene happening in the downtown and east end nightclubs of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. From 1983 to 1989, the vortex of this phenomenal movement whirled at Les Foufounes Électriques, the internationally renown live alternative and punk music venue located in the gritty area of St. Lawrence Boulevard and St. Catherine Street East.

The electro-noise duo rented time in a fully equipped rehearsal studio and eagerly began writing and recording music for their first live show at Les Foufounes Électriques, a nightclub the local regulars, alternative artists and alt/punk bands fondly called 'home'.

They regularly gigged at Les Foufounes Électriques and performed in New York City during their 4 year musical collaboration. The clubs, large and small, outdoor summer festivals & live jams where they played are too numerous to list. The artists who lived through the 80s historic global counterculture art and music movement still talk about those times. For most of them, it was a formative and important time of their lives and future artistic careers. This is when it all began.

This 25 track legacy album encapsulates the musical works of Vava Vol and Zilon Lazer from 1983 to 1987 and is their soundtrack of that 80s movement. The music includes 2 and 4 track master cassette recordings by the electro-minimal duo during their raw intense live shows, in their rehearsal studios and notorious outdoor warehouse jams. All live performances and rehearsal studio tracks were digitally converted in 2009 from Vava's 2 and 4-track master cassette tapes which took 2 years to complete. This album is proof that they have bravely withstood the test of time! Long live the distinctive sound of the Maxell XLII-90 analog cassette tapes!

This album is just one whole note in the 80s musical score. There are many more works to be digitally remastered in Vava's extensive archives. These include master analog reels of Vava and Zilon's very first recordings at their rehearsal studios and live VHS video footage and soundtracks filmed by videographer, Paul Antoniadès. So stay tuned! There may be a Vava & Zilon Legacy Album Part 2 on its way!

Musicians
Vava Vol on lead and back vocals, Korg PS-3300 modular poly analog synth, Pro-One mono synth, string machine, Korg VC-10 Vocoder, Kalimba, toy piano, Fender Mustang bass guitar, portable harmonium, hammers, empty 45 gallon oil drums and metal rebar.

Zilon Lazer on lead and back vocals, Buchla 200 EMS suitcase synthesizer, drum machine & digital delay effects, aluminum drumsticks, discarded metal and empty oil drums.

Rehearsal studio recordings recorded, mixed & mastered by Vava Vol.
Warehouse jams recorded, mixed and mastered by Zilon Lazer.

Analog recording devices were a TEAC 3340 4-track reel to reel tape deck, a Fostex 250 4-track Portable Cassette deck and Zilon’s Aiwa Walkman for the Warehouse Jams.

Credits:
New Yorker, Joshua Fried, Sound Engineer at the Pyramid Club in the 80s for his live mixes on 'Metal and Sander' and 'Fast Faster'. Josh, your mixes are timeless!

radiowonderland.org
joshuafried.com
composersforum.org/members/joshuafried/
www.instagram.com/radiowonderland/?hl=en

Bernard Poirier, Sound Engineer at Les Foufounes Électriques in the 80s for his live mixes on 'Industrial Park' and 'MetalArbeitenSchlinge 1984'. RIP Bernard, dear friend!

Bernard Poirier collaborated with Claude St-Jean, as the Montreal avant-garde, electronic music duo 'Trafic D'Influence'.
www.discogs.com/release/4608631-Trafic-DInfluence-Lipsync

Guy L'Heureux, Photographer, Montreal, Quebec, for the album front and back photos which were photographed in 1986 at the original Club Soda on Park Avenue for the one year anniversary celebration show of the alternative newsweekly the Montreal Mirror.

Pierre Dorion, Realistic Painter, Montreal, Quebec, for lending me his portable harmonium to record the timeless 'Succubus'.

Piki Soul Sister for lending me her Fender Mustang bass guitar for 'Ice Chant' and for being such a great friend! Miss you!

Big thanks to:
Paul Antoniadès and Diane Lassonde, dedicated videographers and close friends for all the videos you shot and video backdrops you created for our live shows, especially the mountain of TVs at the Sayde Bronfman Centre exhibition!

And to everyone who showed up at our last minute 80s warehouse jams where the location of that night's abandoned building would only be disclosed at the very last minute by word of mouth. What memorable experiences these were!

Music protected by SOCAN 1983-2022 Vava Vol and Zilon Lazer
All text authored by Vava Vol Copyright © Vava Vol 2022
Images Copyright © Guy L'Heureux 1983-2022
Front and back cover design by Vava Vol Copyright © 1983-2022

For permission to use any text, music or images herein from the album 'Vava Vol and Zilon Lazer - 1983 - 1987' for any reason whatsoever contact Vava Vol at vavaland@live.ca

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