Biography
Volapük originated as a trio in Southern France during 1993, built around drums, bass clarinet, and cello. The players extended their instruments to generate distinctive tonal palettes, merging group improvisation, jazz phrasing, and chamber textures over a consistent rock base.
Guigou Chenevier, the percussionist, had already co-founded Etron Fou Leloublan in 1973. That band entered the Rock in Opposition collective in 1978 together with Henry Cow, Univers Zero, Stormy Six, and Samla Mammas Manna. Between 1976 and 1985 Etron Fou released six albums, toured Europe repeatedly, and visited the United States three times. Chenevier later issued several solo albums and recordings with Les Batteries; he also contributed to Fred Frith’s Speechless and appeared on Morgan Fisher’s Miniatures compilation.
Bass clarinetist Michel Mandel earned a master’s degree in music from the Grenoble Academy of Music and has performed in diverse musical and theatrical contexts across Italy, France, Germany, and Hungary. Cellist Guillaume Saurel trained at the Avignon Academy of Music, appearing in concerts and on multiple recordings while composing for dance and theater productions throughout France.
Cuneiform released Volapük’s debut, Tiger Fire, in 1995. The label followed with Slang! in 1997. In 2000 the band issued the studio album Polyglot on Cuneiform and the live set Pükapök, recorded during a Polish tour and issued by Retort Media in a limited run of 999 numbered copies. Violinist Takumi Fukushima, who had previously recorded and toured Europe with After Dinner, participated as a guest on Polyglot. The 2003 album Where Is Tamashii?, released on Orkhêstra, listed Fukushima as a full member. After seventeen years together, Volapük announced their breakup in March 2010.
Guigou Chenevier, the percussionist, had already co-founded Etron Fou Leloublan in 1973. That band entered the Rock in Opposition collective in 1978 together with Henry Cow, Univers Zero, Stormy Six, and Samla Mammas Manna. Between 1976 and 1985 Etron Fou released six albums, toured Europe repeatedly, and visited the United States three times. Chenevier later issued several solo albums and recordings with Les Batteries; he also contributed to Fred Frith’s Speechless and appeared on Morgan Fisher’s Miniatures compilation.
Bass clarinetist Michel Mandel earned a master’s degree in music from the Grenoble Academy of Music and has performed in diverse musical and theatrical contexts across Italy, France, Germany, and Hungary. Cellist Guillaume Saurel trained at the Avignon Academy of Music, appearing in concerts and on multiple recordings while composing for dance and theater productions throughout France.
Cuneiform released Volapük’s debut, Tiger Fire, in 1995. The label followed with Slang! in 1997. In 2000 the band issued the studio album Polyglot on Cuneiform and the live set Pükapök, recorded during a Polish tour and issued by Retort Media in a limited run of 999 numbered copies. Violinist Takumi Fukushima, who had previously recorded and toured Europe with After Dinner, participated as a guest on Polyglot. The 2003 album Where Is Tamashii?, released on Orkhêstra, listed Fukushima as a full member. After seventeen years together, Volapük announced their breakup in March 2010.
Singles
