Mort Aux Vaches

Mort aux Vaches is the name of a series of albums released by the Staalplaat record label in collaboration with the Dutch radio station, VPRO. The name translates literally from French as “Death to Cows,” with “cows” being French slang for cops - it is equivalent to “Death to Pigs” in English. The slogan originates from the Franco-Prussian War.

Format

Each album in the series is a live session by a particular artist, recorded in the VPRO studios. The releases keep to the principles of Staalplaat by being packaged in a peculiar and interesting way, including using sand paper and copper. Each release is limited to around 1000 copies.

Artists

Most artists who contribute to the series make electronic music, with a particular bias towards experimental and ambient electronica. Other genres are also represented, such as metal and noise music. Artists who have released an album as part of the series include:

• AU – 2004
• Aube – 1998
• Beequeen – 1997
• CoH – 2002
• Colleen – Mort aux Vaches – 2006
• Contrastate – 1996
• David Shea – 1998
• Don Joyce – 1994
• Étant Donnés – 1997
• Flying Saucer Attack/Main/White Winged Moth – 2003
• FM3 – 2005
• Goem – 1999
• Goodiepal – 2004
• Greg Davis – 2003
• Illusion of Safety – 1996 & 1999
• In Slaughter Natives/Deutsch Nepal – 1994
• Jazzkammer – 2005
• John Duncan – 1997
• Jorge Reyes – 1996
• Kapotte Muziek – 1997
• Kevin Drumm/Dan Burke – 2003
• Kreidler – 1999
• Kozo Inada – 2004
• L.Ø.S.D. – 1997
• Lionel Marchetti/Jérôme Noetinger – 2000
• Machinefabriek – 2008
• Maeror Tri – 1997
• Main – 2003
• Mainpal Inv./Gamers in Exile/Gæoudjiparl – 2005
• Mahmoud refat – 2008
• Mark Templeton – 2011
• Massimo – 2001
• Merzbow – 1995
• Mitchell Akiyama – 2005
• Muslimgauze – Mort Aux Vaches – 1998
• Oren Ambarchi – 2002
• Origami vs. Manipura by:b9/Nocturnal Emissions – 2000
• Pan Sonic/Charlemagne Palestine – 2000
• Philip Samartzis – 2003
• Piano Magic – 1998
• Pimmon – 2003
• Roger Rotor – 2001
• Ryoji Ikeda – 1998
• Scanner – 1996
• Senssurround Orchestra – 2000
• Signal – 2002
• Stilluppsteypa – 1998
• Tape – 2005
• Tarentel – 2002
• Tim Hecker – Mort aux Vaches – 2005
• Tin Foil Star – 1999
• Troum – 2003
• TV Pow – 2000
• Ultra Milkmaids – 1998
• Yellow Swans – 2007
• Zeitkratzer – 2003
• Zoviet France – 1998

External links

• Official label site on Staalplaat’s website.
• Albums on the Mort aux Vaches label on Discogs.
• Origin of the expression mort-aux-vaches