X-Legged Sally (XLS) is a Belgian avant-garde rock/jazz-band founded in 1988 by composer Peter Vermeersch, and disbanded in 1997. They were one of the first bands from Belgium to combine a set of very different musical styles (jazz, rock, improvisation and classical), becoming a starting point for the Belgian indie music scene that developed in the nineties.
Initially, X-Legged Sally was formed to compose and perform the music Peter Vermeersch wrote for dance productions, such as Immer das Selbe Gelogen (Always the Same Lies), released as a live cd in 1991. Vermeersch' composing style was becoming too demanding for the constraints of sheet music such as was used in his earlier band Maximalist!. From the beginning, improvisation played an important role in XLS' songs. The first X-Legged Sally concert took place in November 1988. Soon, XLS became a band in its own right, although there would be cooperations with dance ensembles throughout the existence of the group.
Based on the international success of Maximalist!, X-Legged Sally had the chance to perform in the New York avant-garde Jazz club Knitting Factory, and a live track was included in the recording Live at the Knitting Factory, vol. 4 (1990). The New York connection proved fruitful, as the two first XLS recordings, Slow-Up (1991) and Killed by Charity (1993) were both produced by Bill Laswell. This also meant international attention and distribution, a rare thing for Belgian bands in the early nineties.
The third full album, Eggs and Ashes (1994), contained music written earlier for three different dance productions of Wim Vandekeybus' company Ultima Vez: Immer das Selbe Gelogen (1991), Her body doesn't fit her soul (1993) and Mountains made of barking (1994). This cd is also notorious for featuring the young Mauro Pawlowski on vocals in the waltz Lulu.
The music of X-Legged Sally was now slowly evolving into a more 'mature' sound. Larger concepts, melodious tunes and more vocals appeared in the next album, The Land of the Giant Dwarfs (1995). But by now, the musicians were also evolving into different directions, and on April 20, 1996 the band performed their farewell concert at the Cactus Club in Bruges. This concert was recorded by Radio 1 and released as Fired. It was not, however, their last cd, as 1997 saw the release of Bereft of a Blissful Union, once again an accompaniment to a dance production by Wim Vandekeybus from 1996.
The members of X-Legged Sally spread out in various musical directions, although mutual cooperations still happen. Peter Vermeersch founded A Group (together with Pierre Vervloesem), and later the Flat Earth Society, Eric Sleichim started Bl!ndman, and Pierre Vervloesem featured in a lot of bands and has a productive solo career.
Live at the Knitting Factory, vol. 4 (1990) (contains 1 live track)
Slow-Up (1991)
Immer das Selbe Gelogen (1991) ('music performed by X-Legged Sally')
Killed By Charity (1993)
Eggs and Ashes (1994)
The Land of the Giant Dwarfs (1995)
Fired (1996)
Bereft of a Blissful Union (1997)
External linksedit
Official Flat Earth Society website, with also a page on XLS
X-Legged Sally in the Belgian Pop & Rock Archive
X-Legged Sally at the Muziekmakery
February 11, 2024
legged, sally, belgian, avant, garde, rock, jazz, band, founded, 1988, composer, peter, vermeersch, disbanded, 1997, they, were, first, bands, from, belgium, combine, very, different, musical, styles, jazz, rock, improvisation, classical, becoming, starting, p. X Legged Sally XLS is a Belgian avant garde rock jazz band founded in 1988 by composer Peter Vermeersch and disbanded in 1997 They were one of the first bands from Belgium to combine a set of very different musical styles jazz rock improvisation and classical becoming a starting point for the Belgian indie music scene that developed in the nineties X Legged SallyOriginBelgiumYears active1988 1988 1997SpinoffsFlat Earth SocietyPast membersPeter VermeerschPierre VervloesemBart Maris for full list see members Contents 1 Biography 2 Members 3 Discography 4 External linksBiography editInitially X Legged Sally was formed to compose and perform the music Peter Vermeersch wrote for dance productions such as Immer das Selbe Gelogen Always the Same Lies released as a live cd in 1991 Vermeersch composing style was becoming too demanding for the constraints of sheet music such as was used in his earlier band Maximalist From the beginning improvisation played an important role in XLS songs The first X Legged Sally concert took place in November 1988 Soon XLS became a band in its own right although there would be cooperations with dance ensembles throughout the existence of the group Based on the international success of Maximalist X Legged Sally had the chance to perform in the New York avant garde Jazz club Knitting Factory and a live track was included in the recording Live at the Knitting Factory vol 4 1990 The New York connection proved fruitful as the two first XLS recordings Slow Up 1991 and Killed by Charity 1993 were both produced by Bill Laswell This also meant international attention and distribution a rare thing for Belgian bands in the early nineties The third full album Eggs and Ashes 1994 contained music written earlier for three different dance productions of Wim Vandekeybus company Ultima Vez Immer das Selbe Gelogen 1991 Her body doesn t fit her soul 1993 and Mountains made of barking 1994 This cd is also notorious for featuring the young Mauro Pawlowski on vocals in the waltz Lulu The music of X Legged Sally was now slowly evolving into a more mature sound Larger concepts melodious tunes and more vocals appeared in the next album The Land of the Giant Dwarfs 1995 But by now the musicians were also evolving into different directions and on April 20 1996 the band performed their farewell concert at the Cactus Club in Bruges This concert was recorded by Radio 1 and released as Fired It was not however their last cd as 1997 saw the release of Bereft of a Blissful Union once again an accompaniment to a dance production by Wim Vandekeybus from 1996 The members of X Legged Sally spread out in various musical directions although mutual cooperations still happen Peter Vermeersch founded A Group together with Pierre Vervloesem and later the Flat Earth Society Eric Sleichim started Bl ndman and Pierre Vervloesem featured in a lot of bands and has a productive solo career Members editPeter Vermeersch Pierre Vervloesem Bruno Deneuter Paul Belgrado Bart Maris Eric Sleichim Michel Mast Jean Luc Plouvier Peter Vandenberghe Danny Van Hoeck Pieter Lamot Michel Delory Jan Weuts Thierry MondelaersDiscography editLive at the Knitting Factory vol 4 1990 contains 1 live track Slow Up 1991 Immer das Selbe Gelogen 1991 music performed by X Legged Sally Killed By Charity 1993 Eggs and Ashes 1994 The Land of the Giant Dwarfs 1995 Fired 1996 Bereft of a Blissful Union 1997 External links editOfficial Flat Earth Society website with also a page on XLS X Legged Sally in the Belgian Pop amp Rock Archive X Legged Sally at the Muziekcentrum Vlaanderen X Legged Sally at the Muziekmakery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title X Legged Sally amp oldid 1202494224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
