Weirdos among the weird, La Soci t des Timides la Parade des Oiseaux (or STPO, translation: "The Shy Society at the Bird Parade") uses the music of Albert Marcoeur, A.A. Kismet, and Etron Fou Leloublan as a springboard. The result is an unqualifiable blend of Rock-in-Opposition, avant-punk, free improvisation, noise, and operatic vocals in French, German, English, and an invented language that will make you think of Magma. If STPO raise the ante in jagged, multi-directional avant-rock, they don"t do it better. Certainly entertaining (to the seasoned listeners), and puzzling, it lacks some focus and strong, defining moments that would anchor the album to something solid and memorable. La Soci te des Timides la Parade des Oiseaux culls all the tracks from the group"s sole LP from 1990 and a previous EP from 1986. The material from 1990 has been lifted right off the LP and the clean-up job is rather disappointing, with plenty of pops, clicks, and surface noise. The EP has been transferred from the master tapes. The instrumentation features trumpet, cello, two guitars, synths, bass, and percussion. The tracks, all very short with the exception of the LP finale "S.I.X.," have been tightly sequenced in a flash-splice fashion that ensures maximum disorientation. "D compte" and "Underground Woman" stand as the CD"s highlights. A curiosity item. ~ Fran ois Couture, Rovi