Public health workers and experts in the North East have told us more action is needed to fight childhood obesity.
They say the government's plans for a sugar tax on soft drinks are a step in the right direction - but far from enough, on their own, to tackle the problem in our region.
This week, our series 'Focus on Obesity' has looked at the extent of the childhood obesity problem, its causes and consequences, and now the proposed solutions.
We want to hear from you. Do you think the sugar tax will make a difference? What do you think needs to be done to reduce the number of overweight and obese children here?
The sugar tax - will it work?
A week ago, the Chancellor George Osborne announced in his Budget plans for a sugar levy on soft drinks, with producers facing charges depending on how much sugar is in their drinks.
The move is aimed at getting producers to reduce the sugar content in their drinks - but it's expected that it will be passed on to customers in the form of price rises, with an intended effect on public consumption.
Price rises could include 8p on a 330ml can of coke, or 36p on a 2l bottle of Sprite.
What more should we be doing?
The government is due to publish a full childhood obesity strategy this year. It is now expected in the autumn, after delays this spring.
Experts in the North East say there still need to be significant extra measures, in addition to the sugar tax announcement.
Professor Ashley Adamson welcomes the sugar tax - but says the government must go further.
Ashley Adamson, Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Newcastle University says the sugar tax is "one piece in the jigsaw - it's not going to be the solution" to tackling childhood obesity.
Gateshead Council has been one of the most proactive local authorities in trying to fight childhood obesity, and last summer introduced rules that ban the opening of new takeaways in areas where there are already many of them.
Four planning applications for new takeaway premises have so far been rejected.
Alice Wiseman, Consultant in Public Health, Gateshead Council says "we have done as much as we can do with the current legislation that we have got. What we'd like to do is work with the government to see if there are other measures that can be introduced."
Alice Wiseman is calling on the government to give councils more powers to tackle obesity locally.
She believes councils should be given more powers over advertising - in terms of marketing on billboards and posters in the local community, for example near to schools - and also the placement of products and offers in shops.
The government says the sugar tax is one of a number of measures already in place to try to tackle childhood obesity - and its upcoming strategy will build on that work.
The Government is already helping to tackle obesity in children — for example by investing in school sport, getting manufacturers to remove calories from soft drinks and food, and introducing labelling so parents can easily see how much fat, sugar and salt is in their families' food.
The obesity strategy will be a key step further forward in helping our children live healthier lives, but there is still work to be done to get it right.


text:
Syriza, pseudo-left maneuver ahead of Greek elections
Christoph Dreier
On Thursday, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos named Vasiliki Thanou, the president of Greece's supreme court, as interim prime minister. She now has the task of organising the elections expected to take place on September 20. Pavlopoulos is expected to announce the final date today.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras triggered the election call by resigning last week. In his first television interview since announcing his decision on Wednesday evening, he said he wanted to let the people decide if they agreed with his decision to agree to a new European Union (EU) austerity memorandum.
This is a political fraud. Tsipras very deliberately delayed his resignation until loans from the European institutions had been released, and the associated austerity measures were adopted in parliament. Syriza had thus already begun implementing austerity measures which go far beyond anything enforced by previous governments.
The party did this in complete repudiation of its promises prior to January's election, which it won by a large margin, to end EU austerity in Greece. It also defied the declared will of the Greek people, which voted in the 5 July referendum against further austerity measures.
Under these conditions, calling new elections has nothing to do with democracy. Tsipras is mainly concerned with overcoming the government crisis provoked by his austerity measures, which face widespread popular opposition. Either he will obtain a majority and force through the cuts himself, or he will hand power over to the openly pro-austerity parties.
Tsipras made this quite clear in his interview on Wednesday. "I will not be prime minister in a coalition" with the conservative New Democracy, the social-democratic Pasok, or the liberal To Potami, he said. "I think that all three parties embody the old political system."
As the Greek daily Kathimerini remarked, Tsipras did not exclude going in to coalition with these parties, but only serving as prime minister in such a coalition. Such a coalition is not unlikely. The current austerity measures were adopted in parliament by these three parties, together with Syriza and the Independent Greeks (Anel).
Tsipras vehemently defended the cuts. "I turned no to a bad agreement into a yes with problems, but which has potential," he said. In particular, the agreement with the institutions gave the country "financial breathing space to settle our debts."
This sums up the program of the Tsipras government. While he imposed pension cuts, wage reductions and tax increases against the wishes of the vast majority, he boasts that Greece can now pay its creditors. The alternative to this policy was a "banking crash, perhaps even civil war," according to Tsipras.
Even though Tsipras declared his intention to cushion the impact of his own policies, he left no doubt that his government would continue with anti-social measures. Greeks could not continue to place the blame abroad, he said. Instead, tax evasion and corruption in their own country had to be tackled.
Concern is growing in the political establishment that the massive opposition to austerity in the population, and especially in the working class, as expressed in the referendum, could begin to take more explicit form. According to polls, support for Syriza has already declined sharply, although past polls have proven frequently inaccurate.
To prevent the emergence of an independent movement of the working class, various initiatives are being pursued to contain and suppress popular opposition. On Tuesday, the group 53+, which was founded within Syriza in July and includes current Finance Minister Euklides Tsakalotos, met. Its members intend to remain within Syriza. However, they are debating whether they should state their readiness to take on posts in a new government, or maintain some distance from the party majority.
In addition, 53 members of the 201-member Syriza central committee resigned on Wednesday. Some had already joined the new Popular Unity Party (LAE), while others are considering offering critical support to Syriza and are waiting until a party congress at the weekend where Tsipras is to give a speech.
LAE was founded by former Syriza Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis and 24 other deputies from the party. Lafazanis accused Tsipras on Thursday of having "given up all of the content of Syriza's programmatic positions." Tsipras' program, Lafazanis said, meant the "final blow to the Greek economy," he said. He claimed that his party intended to reintroduce pension and wage rates from 2010, prior to the austerity measures.
These pledges are as worthless as those of Syriza prior to coming to power. Lafazanis and his collaborators voted in favour of the austerity dictates drafted by Tsipras on July 10 and only shifted their position after the European institutions demanded more austerity. Even then, they declared their solidarity with the government and promised Tsipras their support.
As part of attempts to form a new government, Lafazanis met with leading representatives of Pasok and the pseudo-left Antarsya alliance. He also sought to bring the discredited trade unions to the negotiating table to strengthen the position of a future government.
Similar manoeuvres are taking place involving parliamentary speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou. According to reports, she is in talks with World War II resistance fighter and longstanding Syriza member Manolis Glezos about founding a new party. According to Efimerida ton Syntakton, Konstantopoulou intends to enter into an election agreement with LAE.
All of these formations have nothing more to offer than repeating Syriza's bankrupt promises. They do not represent the interests of the workers, but of privileged layers of the middle class dissatisfied with the results of Tsipras' negotiations.
GreeceThe Syriza government in Greece: The pseudo-left in power

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
E3 Spark Plugs >> Newest Batmobile Unveiled
Newest Batmobile Unveiled
The movie starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Amy Adams won't be released until next March. But film car buffs and fans of super hero flicks are getting an epic preview of the newest Batmobile to be featured in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
The massive muscle movie ride recently was unveiled at the Warner Brothers Studio tour in Hollywood, California. Executives say the next-generation Batmobile combines elements of the sleek, streamlined design of classic Batmobiles and the high-suspension, military build sported in the more recent Tumbler from the Dark Knight Trilogy. Created by production designer Patrick Tatopoulos, the new Batmobile measures nearly 20 feet long and 12 feet wide and we here at E3 Spark Plugs think it's one of the coolest yet.
Want to see the new Batmobile for yourself? It's on display through December 31.
So, which is your favorite Batmobile? Post your thoughts on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page.


Stanley Black & Decker will build a new DeWalt hand tools plant in York County, bringing 500 jobs to the Fort Mill area.
The Charlotte Business Journal reported in May that the toolmaker was eyeing northern York County for a huge tool plant as the company worked to reshore production of its DeWalt and other brands of its hand tools.
The Stanley Black & Decker plant will represent a $31 million investment for the Connecticut-based company. The 345,000-square-foot plant will be built in Lakemont Business Park, a Crescent Communities development.
Jeff Ansell, Stanley Black & Decker global tools and storage president, says the new plant will be one of 30 Stanley Black & Decker plants that make a variety of branded tools.
"We are proud to continuously make more product in the USA and even prouder to be the world's largest and America's largest tool company," Ansell says.
Brian Leary, president of commercial and mixed-use projects at Crescent Communities, says the Stanley Black & Decker has had a "working relationship" with Crescent.
"This is once again proof positive that Lakemont's outstanding location offers blue-chip institutions like Stanley Black & Decker superior access to the region's transportation network and employment base," Leary says.
DeWalt hand tools are being assembled in a 500,000-square-foot plant in southern Mecklenburg County. It was unclear whether the new facility would replace that production facility.
Britt Blackwell, chairman of the York County Council, says it makes sense that Stanley Black & Decker will build in the Fort Mill area.
"We are thrilled to have this global manufacturer expand their footprint here in York County, and we look forward to the 500 jobs it will bring to our area in the years to come," he says.


In this free eBook, you will find hats. Lots and lots of hats for both crocheters and knitters. This professional eBook by Yarnspiratons is really neat! It's magazine quality but the best part, you can click on the magazine and get the free pattern that the model is wearing!
All of the patterns inside this book are doable! In fact, I have a few tutorials for a few things in this eBook for you to follow. I will provide those below.
Check out the tutorials below for the Cable Twist Hat, Houndstooth Hat and Going Dotty Hats. Click on the eBook to access these free patterns.


text:
Q: HttpClient 4.5.2 Proxy setting I need to call third party web service via proxy.
I only have information below:
-  Third party https IP & Port
-  Proxy http IP & Port
May I know I need credential : username & Password for the Proxy?
Part of my code below:-
CloseableHttpClient httpclient = HttpClients.createDefault();

    HttpHost proxy = new HttpHost(proxyHost, proxyPort);
    DefaultProxyRoutePlanner routePlanner = new
    DefaultProxyRoutePlanner(proxy);
    CloseableHttpClient httpclient = HttpClients.custom()
    .setRoutePlanner(routePlanner)
    .build();

        RequestConfig config =RequestConfig.custom().setProxy(proxy).build();

            HttpPost httppost = new HttpPost(queryUrl);
            httppost.setConfig(config);

CloseableHttpResponse httpResponse = httpclient.execute(httppost);

Unfortunately, Proxy server reponse me "Access denied. Authentication is required."
Any idea for this problem?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This image is 300 dpi and suitable for high quality printing. Rather have this image for editorial use or as wallpaper?
It was already mid afternoon and we still had to travel 5 hours through the Moroccan desert with a four-wheel drive to reach the place where our guide was waiting for us with dromedaries. I had to shoot an opening image for an article on Morocco and we wanted to show pristine dunes and a guide walking up the dunes with 2 dromedaries. Easier said than done.
When shooting a travel reportage, one always has a very tight and calculated schedule and we needed low sunlight shining on exactly the right side of the dunes. We arrived just in time, having about 30 minutes left to do this shoot! Immediately after stopping the car, we jumped out and I went to determine the right spot for this image. I expressed my wishes to our guide and asked him if he really understood the fact that we could only do this once, because we where loosing the sunlight quickly. Luckily we had an excellent guide and he started walking up the dunes. Not something that is done within 5 minutes and he had to reach the exact right spot to make this image work.
At a certain point, the dromedaries stopped and for some reason they didn't want to continue walking. I felt the tension building with the magazine's editor-in-chief at my side. We both saw that this could be a beautiful picture, if the dromedaries would indeed make it to the top of the dunes. We were communicating with the guide by hand gestures. He understood the importance of the dromedaries continuing their walk to the top, but they just seemed to have a mind of their own. After a few very long minutes they finally started moving again and I could start shooting a few images. This one was the selected opening image for the magazine publication. We were very happy!


Officials said the body was found in the Colorado River at noon Tuesday following "historic" flooding in Central Texas.
BURENT COUNTY, Texas — A body has been found in the water at the Colorado River following "historic" flooding in Central Texas, according to Burnet County officials.
Officials said the body was found at about noon on Tuesday.
People living along the Llano River are currently being evacuated from their homes right now due to this "historic" flooding event.
A flash flood warning is in effect for Llano and Gillespie County until 3:10 p.m. A flash flood warning is in effect for Mason County until 2:10 p.m.


Adorable Cottage by the Delaware Bay! If you are looking for a well maintained 2bedroom,1bath home with a large living room this may be the perfect home for you! The home is situated on a large 100x100 fenced lot with plenty of room for entertaining or expansion. Roof, windows and siding have all been updated within last 8-10 years. Home features natural gas heat, central air conditioning, city water and sewer makes this perfect for year round use. You'll love the charm of this bayshore retreat.


My girl eventually identified towards your darling intents in 2x24 [In depth cure the particular Poole], Labelling the companies special connection "Colleagues considering solutions" With the aspiration that it wouldn't end up as "Chaotic, That developed into unrealistic, the "Solidarity" Have been injuring your partner the odds to have girl (this). Down the road, Anytime you are Denise unveiled the actual woman's proposal to make sure you Daniel, Brad has been completely nauseous they didn take heed what is good news Fairy Tail Cosplay Costumes from your loved one's. Battle to Make spouse Denise got well-Situated to turn into a partner as a consequence of your lover.


text:
bronze (n.)
1721, "alloy of copper and (usually) a smaller amount of tin," from French bronze, from Italian bronzo, from Medieval Latin bronzium, which is of uncertain origin. Perhaps cognate (via notion of color) with Venetian bronza "glowing coals," or German brunst "fire." Perhaps influenced by Latin Brundisium the Italian town of Brindisi (Pliny writes of aes Brundusinum). Perhaps ultimately from Persian birinj "copper."
In Middle English, the distinction between bronze (copper-tin alloy) and brass (copper-zinc alloy) was not clear, and both were called bras (see brass (n.)). Used historically for bells, cannons, statuary, and fine mechanical works. Also from French are Dutch brons, German Bronze, etc., and ultimately from the Medieval Latin word are Spanish bronce, Russian bronza, Polish bronc, Albanian brunze, etc.
A bronze medal has been given to a third-place finisher at least since 1852. The archaeological Bronze Age (1850) falls between the Stone and Iron ages, and is a reference to the principal material for making weapons and ornaments.
age (n.)
late 13c., "long but indefinite period in human history," from Old French aage, eage (12c., Modern French âge) "age; life, lifetime, lifespan; maturity," earlier edage (11c.), from Vulgar Latin *aetaticum (source also of Spanish edad, Italian eta, Portuguese idade "age"), extended form of Latin aetatem (nominative aetas), "period of life, age, lifetime, years," from aevum "lifetime, eternity, age," from PIE root *aiw- "vital force, life; long life, eternity"
Expelled native eld (Old English eald) "old age; an age; age as a period of life." Meaning "time something has lived, particular length or stage of life" is from early 14c. Used especially for "old age" since early 14c.; meaning "effects of old age" (feebleness, senility, etc.) is from mid-15c. In geology, in reference to great periods in the history of the earth, 1855; in archaeology, from 1865 (Stone Age, etc.) naming periods for the materials employed for weapons and tools. Sometimes in early modern English "a century" (similar to French siècle "century," literally "an age"), hence plural use in Dark Ages, Middle Ages. To act (one's) age "behave with appropriate maturity" is attested by 1927.
bronze (v.)
1640s, "give the color or appearance of bronze to," from French bronzer (16c.) or else from bronze (n.). Figuratively, of feelings, hearts, etc., "to harden like bronze," 1726. Meaning "to make to be brown or bronze in color" (by exposure to the sun, etc.) is from 1792. Related: Bronzed; bronzing.
age (v.)
late 14c., "grow old," from age (n.). Transitive meaning "make old" is early 15c.
age-group (n.)
1876, originally a term in the science of demographics, from age (n.) + group (n.).
over-age (adj.)
that is over a certain age," "1886, from over- + age (n.). Related: Over-aged (n.) "those who are too old" (late 15c.).
age-old (adj.)
1896, from age (n.) + old.
Minoan (adj.)
"of or pertaining to ancient Crete," 1894, from Minos, famous king of Crete; applied by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans to the Bronze Age civilization that flourished there c. 3000-1400 B.C.E.
bell-metal (n.)
"alloy used in making cast bells," 1540s, from bell (n.) + metal (n.). Typically copper and tin, with a higher proportion of tin than usual in bronze.
gun-metal (n.)
type of bronze or other alloy formerly used in the manufacture of light cannons (since superseded by steel), 1540s, from gun (n.) + metal. Used attributively of a dull blue-gray color since 1905.


text:
JAVMA AJVR
ABOUT JAVMA ABOUT AJVR SUBSCRIBE FAQs
JAVMA INSTRUCTIONS AJVR INSTRUCTIONS COPYRIGHT TRANSFER FORM MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
JAVMA REVIEWER INFORMATION AJVR REVIEWER INFORMATION
DISPLAY ADS MEDIA KIT CLASSIFIED ADS
From 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 — To 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
Refine by AJVR Editorial Type
https://avmajournals.avma.org/search?f_0=author&q_0=Janina+A.+Krumbeck
Author or Editor: Janina A. Krumbeck x
Sort by: RelevanceTitle A - ZTitle Z - ADate - Old to RecentDate - Recent to OldAuthor A - ZAuthor Z - AArticle / News Item A - ZArticle / News Item Z - A
The bacteriome of the oral cavity in healthy dogs and dogs with periodontal disease
Authors Brook A. Niemiec, Jerzy Gawor, Shuiquan Tang, Aishani Prem, and Janina A. Krumbeck
To compare the bacteriome of the oral cavity in healthy dogs and dogs with various stages of periodontal disease.
Dogs without periodontal disease (n = 12) or with mild (10), moderate (19), or severe (10) periodontal disease.
The maxillary arcade of each dog was sampled with a sterile swab, and swabs were submitted for next-generation DNA sequencing targeting the V1–V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene.
714 bacterial species from 177 families were identified. The 3 most frequently found bacterial species were Actinomyces sp (48/51 samples), Porphyromonas cangingivalis (47/51 samples), and a Campylobacter sp (48/51 samples). The most abundant species were P cangingivalis, Porphyromonas gulae, and an undefined Porphyromonas sp. Porphyromonas cangingivalis and Campylobacter sp were part of the core microbiome shared among the 4 groups, and P gulae, which was significantly enriched in dogs with severe periodontal disease, was part of the core microbiome shared between all groups except dogs without periodontal disease. Christensenellaceae sp, Bacteroidales sp, Family XIII sp, Methanobrevibacter oralis, Peptostreptococcus canis, and Tannerella sp formed a unique core microbiome in dogs with severe periodontal disease.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results highlighted that in dogs, potential pathogens can be common members of the oral cavity bacteriome in the absence of disease, and changes in the relative abundance of certain members of the bacteriome can be associated with severity of periodontal disease. Future studies may aim to determine whether these changes are the cause or result of periodontal disease or the host immune response.
in American Journal of Veterinary Research
The mycobiome of the oral cavity in healthy dogs and dogs with periodontal disease
To investigate the mycobiome of the oral cavity in healthy dogs and dogs with various stages of periodontal disease.
51 dogs without periodontal disease (n = 12) or with mild (10), moderate (19), or severe (10) periodontal disease.
The whole maxillary arcade of each dog was sampled with a sterile swab, and swabs were submitted for next-generation DNA sequencing targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region with a commercial sequencing platform.
Fungi were detected in all samples, with a total of 320 fungal species from 135 families detected in the data set. No single fungal species was found in all samples. The 3 most frequently found fungal species were Cladosporium sp (46/51 samples), Malassezia restricta (44/51 samples), and Malassezia arunalokei (36/51 samples). Certain fungi, specifically those of the family Didymellaceae, the family Irpicaceae, and the order Pleosporales, were significantly associated with different stages of periodontitis. Mycobial analysis indicated that Cladosporium sp could be considered part of the core oral cavity mycobiome.
Results highlighted that fungi are present in the oral cavity of dogs and are characterized by substantial species diversity, with different fungal communities associated with various stages of periodontal disease. The next-generation DNA sequencing used in the present study revealed substantially more species of fungi than previous culture-based studies.
American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA)
Foundation (AVMF)
AVMA Political Action Committee
(PAC)
Follow the AVMA journals
Follow the AVMA
AVMA members: Subscribe to newsletters
© 2021 American Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Powered by KGL PubFactory


text:
History and Ownership
J. Luther King, Jr., CFA, CIC
Contact LKCM
Professionals >
Legal/Tax/Compliance
Administrative and Operations
Invest >
Mutual Funds: LKCM Funds
Mutual Funds: LKCM Aquinas Funds
Legal / Tax / Compliance
Mutual Funds: LKCM Aquinas Catholic Equity Fund
Jacob D. Smith
Principal, Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer
Jacob D. Smith is a Principal of LKCM. He joined the firm in 2006 and serves as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to joining LKCM, Mr. Smith was an enforcement attorney with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and corporate/securities attorney with Haynes and Boone, LLP. Mr. Smith graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Central Arkansas and received his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from the Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Gregory L. McCoy, CPA
Vice President, Tax Officer
Gregory L. McCoy, CPA, joined LKCM in 2007 and serves as Accounting and Tax Officer. Prior to joining LKCM, Mr. McCoy was the Tax Manager for Q Investments, the Tax Director for Crow Holdings and a Tax Manager at Coopers & Lybrand. Mr. McCoy graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Professional Accounting, Specialization in Tax, from the University of Texas at Austin.
Anna V. Nikiforova, CFA, IACCP
Vice President, Associate Compliance Officer
Anna V. Nikiforova, CFA, IACCP, joined LKCM in 2013 as Associate Compliance Officer. Prior to joining LKCM, Ms. Nikiforova was the Chief Compliance Officer of Corriente Advisors, LLC and the Head of Business Affairs group at Q Investments. Ms. Nikiforova graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland University College and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Christian University.
Richard W. Lenart, CFP®
Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer of LKCM Mutual Funds
Richard W. Lenart, CFP® joined LKCM in 2005 and serves as Secretary and Treasurer for the LKCM Mutual Funds and Aquinas Mutual Funds. Prior to joining LKCM, Mr. Lenart was Vice President of The Aquinas Funds, Mutual Funds Manager for 1st Global Capital Corp, and a mutual fund investment representative for Fidelity Investments. Mr. Lenart graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
© 2020 Luther King Capital Management


Photoshop is the most widely used design and image editing software for the internet and print. The following videos are designed to teach you the basics and how you can use Photoshop when designing your website.
Dude love your tutorials on php...thanks for that, i don't think anyone explains stuff so well.
Thanks you so much for taking the time to make these videos. I have watched them all, and found them to be extremely useful, sensible and interesting (from "don't reinvent the wheel/ seek open source solutions," to "dress code advice," to "be the sort of solution for your clients that you would hope to find as a client").
I look forward eagerly to future entries in this series. I am a web designer in the process of setting up a business, and your series came at just the right time.
I'm real happy that I took the Web Design course at Killersites.
As a beginner, I didn't know really where to start. After almost having completed the course, I have learned pratical skills and understanding of what's webbuilding is about.
The way it is presented is great.


text:
L'Istituto di ricerche economiche e sociali (IRES) è stato un istituto fondato dalla Cgil
nel 1979, che si è occupato principalmente di studiare il mondo del lavoro e dei suoi cambiamenti. Ha svolto attività di progettazione, analisi e ricerca e produzione editoriale fino al 3 giugno 2013. L'istituto è successivamente confluito nell'Associazione Bruno Trentin-Isf-Ires. Dal 1º settembre 2015 il patrimonio dell'Associazione Bruno-Trentin-Ires è confluito nella Fondazione Giuseppe Di Vittorio.

Storia
Nel 1979 Vittorio Foa, Bruno Trentin e Luciano Lama fondavano l'IRES, istituto di ricerche economiche e sociali della Cgil. Giuliano Amato è stato il primo presidente. Nel 1988 l'IRES si costituì in associazione. Pur rimanendo collegata alla Cgil, l'istituto acquistò di conseguenza autonomia sotto il profilo scientifico.
Il 2 dicembre 2009 l'IRES ha festeggiato il trentennale, ripercorrendo, attraverso le testimonianze di alcune personalità del mondo sindacale e scientifico, i passaggi più rilevanti della storia dell'istituto.
L'ultimo presidente dell'istituto è stato Raffaele Minelli.

Organizzazione
Le attività di ricerca erano ripartite in base alle aree di ricerca in cui era organizzato l'istituto:
 mercato del lavoro
 relazioni industriali
 welfare e diritti di cittadinanza
 sviluppo locale e politica industriale
 ambiente e territorio

Allo scopo di favorire ed intensificare il confronto fra tutte le aree dell'IRES intorno ad alcuni temi di particolare attualità, erano altresì presenti sette osservatori all'interno dell'istituto, che si occupavano dei seguenti argomenti:
 lavoro sommerso e legalità
 energia e innovazione
 immigrazione
 lavoro atipico
 lavoro minorile e dispersione scolastica e formativa
 salari e distribuzione del reddito
 salute e sicurezza

Centro documentazione
All'interno dell'istituto era presente un centro di documentazione informatizzato, aperto al pubblico, con oltre alle pubblicazioni dell'IRES, testi e riviste scientifiche italiani e stranieri in materia socio-economica e sindacale.

Omologhi a livello regionale
IRES Abruzzo
IRES Basilicata
IRES Campania
IRES Emilia-Romagna
IRES Friuli Venezia Giulia
IRES Marche
IRES Piemonte "Lucia Morosini"
IRES Toscana
IRES Veneto

Note

CGIL

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


One of the fiercest rivalries in the National Hockey League will soon take center stage once again when the Freeway Face-Off gets underway. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks will soon hit the road and make their way to the Staples Center to take on their hated rivals, the Los Angeles Kings in an epic series. The Ducks have been one of the most consistent teams in the league over the last few years and they will be looking to make a huge statement by coming out on top against the formidable Kings. If you are a hockey fan, then this is your chance to grab Anaheim Mighty Ducks Los Angeles tickets and watch these two heavyweights collide, live.
The time has come for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to make their way to enemy territory to face their rivals, the Los Angeles Kings. The latest installment of this fierce rivalry promises to be one of the highlights of the season, yet again.
It was in the year 1992 that the Disney hit "The Mighty Ducks" was released. Then the very next year, The Walt Disney Company was awarded a hockey franchise by the NHL and it was named The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. They started off slowly, failing to make it to the playoffs in their first three years. They qualified for the playoffs for the first time in their fourth try and things began to pick up for the Ducks from that point onwards.
After struggling for a decade, the Ducks turned things around in a spectacular fashion. They got their hands on their first conference title in 2003. It was followed by their most successful campaign in history. In the 2006-2007 season, the Ducks won the division title, the conference championship and then added the icing on the cake by lifting the Stanley Cup.
They have won three more division titles since then with all of those coming in the last three seasons. The stage is set for them to take on the Kings now. Book your Anaheim Mighty Ducks Los Angeles tickets and watch titanic clash between these two old rivals, live at the Staples Center. It hardly gets any bigger than this in hockey.


text:
Q: Is it possible to get data inside '::before' using Selenium I want to get the mobile number of companies from this website, but the mobile number is stored in a weird format that I haven't seen before. Each span represent each digit of the mobile number.
The url of the website is 'https://www.justdial.com/Bangalore/Corporate-Companies-in-Manyata-Tech-Park/nct-10138533'.
The picture I added isn't showing up for some reason 'https://imgur.com/a/3Tn2dn5'

A: You would need to use JavaScript to access the pseudo element ::before. You can look at this answer here and try modifying it: https://stackoverflow.com/a/43892892/4323004
browser.execute_script("return window.getComputedStyle(document.querySelector('.SomeTitle .bar'),':before').getPropertyValue('content')")

A: You can use the the core function from WebDriver.findElements. Pass to this the xpath: "identify_parent_spans/span" where 'identify_parent_span is the xpath for identify the node where the phone number is located. After have the array of spans iterate over it and execute getText for each element and build the phoneNumber string.


text:
Six dead after powerful earthquake shakes Nepal
Six dead after powerful earthquake shakes Nepal /node/2196226/world
Light illuminates a street between the cluster of residential buildings in Kathmandu, Nepal November 8, 2022. (REUTERS)
https://arab.news/4swff
Updated 09 November 2022
KATHMANDU: An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck Nepal early Wednesday, killing at least six people and destroying multiple houses in the western district of Doti, close to populous towns, officials said.
Five other people were seriously injured as eight houses collapsed, said Bhola Bhatta, deputy superintendent of police in Doti, confirming an earlier figure shared by home ministry official Tulsi Rijal.
Nepal is still rebuilding after two major earthquakes in 2015 killed almost 9,000 people, destroyed whole towns and centuries-old temples and caused a $6 billion blow to the economy.
Narayan Silwal, spokesman for the Nepali army, said a ground rescue team has been rushed to the site and two helicopters were on stand by in nearby Surkhet and Nepalgunj towns.
Nepal's seismological centre set the earthquake at a magnitude of 6.6. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) had pegged the earthquake at a magnitude of 5.6.
The quake was centred about 158 km (100 miles) northeast of Pilibhit, a populous city in the neighbouring Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and occurred at a depth of 10 km, EMSC added.
Media reports after the quake showed tremors were also felt in India's capital, New Delhi, and surrounding areas.
Topics: earthquake nepal New delhi India
Strong earthquake shakes Mexico's Pacific coast; 1 killed
At least 8 killed in Afghanistan earthquake
Herders in Ethiopia forced to give up their nomadic existence /node/2241791/world
Herders in Ethiopia forced to give up their nomadic existence
Updated 8 sec ago
Drought has plunged 12 million people into 'acute food insecurity' in Ethiopia, UN says
KELAFO: Mohammed Hassan Gureh has made up his mind: He's going to sell the last of his goats and leave his village to find a new life.
Like many herders in the east of Ethiopia, he has been forced to give up his nomadic existence after seeing his livestock decimated by drought.
The 32-year-old says he can no longer bear seeing his animals die. Out of a herd of 250 goats, only 35 are left.
And in his village of El Gel, in a corner of the Somali region of Ethiopia not far from the border with Somalia, two-thirds of the animals have been wiped out.
Gureh, like other nomadic herders across the Horn of Africa, has been waiting desperately for more than two years for rains that have not come.
The last five rainy seasons since the end of 2020 have failed, triggering the worst drought in four decades in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. And the next rainy season, from March to May, is also expected to be below average.
According to the UN, drought has plunged 12 million people into "acute food insecurity" in Ethiopia alone, where a deadly conflict has also ravaged the north of the country.
More than 4.5 million livestock have died since 2021 and another 30 million "weakened and emaciated" animals are at risk, the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA said in a January 18 report.
Gureh waited and prayed, but he has had to face the grim reality. "There is no sign of improvement. I think the drought will continue and get worse over time." So he has decided to sell his goats before it is too late.
With the small amount of money he'll make from a sale, he plans to leave El Gel and head to the nearby town of K'elafo, hoping he will finally be able to support his wife, his four children, his blind father and his crippled mother.
His plans are vague: He will probably try to eke out a living as a small-time trader selling charcoal, firewood or incense.
"I also want to start adult education and develop my skills in order to find employment opportunities," he says.
"It's a very difficult decision to move from a life as a goatherd to a new way of life that I don't know ... But I have no other option."
Topics: Ethiopia
Ethiopia government team in rebel Tigray after Nov.2 peace deal
First UN aid convoy since cease-fire enters Ethiopia's Tigray
Wife of Daesh leader jailed for 8 years in Somalia over terror fund transfers /node/2241761/world
Wife of Daesh leader jailed for 8 years in Somalia over terror fund transfers
Updated 24 min 9 sec ago
Fartun Abdirashid, wife of Abdiqadir Mumin, head of the Daesh group, was sentenced on Monday at a military court
MOGADISHU: A military tribunal in Somalia has sentenced the wife of the head of a terrorist organization linked to Daesh to eight years in prison for passing on information and organizing financial transactions for the group, a military official said on Monday.
Fartun Abdirashid, wife of Abdiqadir Mumin, head of the Daesh group, was sentenced on Monday at a military court.
She has been under custody since her arrest in March last year in the capital, Mogadishu.
Abdirashid was accused of frequently transferring $100 to $200 to the group's members, the public prosecutor's office said.
She had a working relationship with Bilal Al-Sudaani, a senior Daesh official who was killed on Wednesday in a US raid in Somalia's northern Bari region.
Mumin, a former Al-Shabab cleric, pledged his allegiance to Daesh leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in 2015.
Daesh holds a smaller footprint in Somalia compared to the Al-Shabab terrorist group that has carried out numerous attacks in the country.
Somalia's forces are carrying out an offensive against Al-Shabab that has been described at the most significant in more than a decade.
The first US Cabinet member to visit Somalia since 2015 urged the world's distracted donors to give immediate help to a country facing deadly famine, which she calls "the ultimate failure of the international community."
Topics: Somalia Daesh
US raid in Somalia kills senior Daesh figure, 10 others: US officials
Somali leader urges people to flush out Al-Shabab 'bedbugs'
Young Palestinians and Israelis invited to Japan by Foreign Ministry /node/2241696/world
Young Palestinians and Israelis invited to Japan by Foreign Ministry
File photo of the Foreign Ministry building in Tokyo. (ANJ)
Arab News Japan
Four Israelis and four Palestinians were invited to Japan as part of Japan's efforts to realize a "two-state solution"
TOKYO: Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting a group of Palestinians and Israelis as part of the 2022 Israeli-Palestinian Joint Youth Invitation Program.
Four Israelis and four Palestinians were invited to Japan as part of Japan's efforts to realize a "two-state solution" by establishing a future "Palestinian state" alongside Israel.
The program with the youths "aims to provide a forum for building mutual trust and deepen understanding of Japan's efforts toward peace in the Middle East, foreign policy, economy and culture."
The invitation program is now in its 23rd year and more than 220 people have been invited from Israel and Palestine.
During their stay, the delegation will visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exchange opinions with the students, and tour Tokyo and local cities, including Kyoto and Hiroshima.
This article originally appeared on Arab News Japan. Click here to read it.
Topics: Japan Palestine
Bank chairman says Palestine must triple efforts to protect economy, ideals, resilience
Three injured in knife attack near EU Brussels headquarters /node/2241676/world
Emergency personnel arrive outside of a metro station near EU headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)
Updated 52 min 46 sec ago
The suspected attacker was known to police for "psychiatric problems," a source close to the investigation said
BRUSSELS: Three people were injured, one seriously, in a knife attack Monday in a metro station near the European Union headquarters in Brussels, officials said, adding that the attacker had been arrested.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close said the man was speedily detained due to coordinated police action at the Schuman metro station.
Police said one of the injured was in "critical condition."
The suspected attacker was known to police for "psychiatric problems," a source close to the investigation said.
The attack took place at rush hour around 6:00 pm.
European Union chief Charles Michel, a former Belgian prime minister, thanked the police in a tweet and said his thoughts were with the victims.
An AFP journalist at the site said a woman told people not to enter the station, saying there was a man inside armed with a knife as police rushed in.
Traffic was interrupted on the line.
Topics: Brussels
Police officer killed in suspected Brussels terror attack
Brussels airport attack survivor is euthanized after struggle with trauma
Afghans urge international support amid Taliban bans /node/2241651/world
Afghans urge international support amid Taliban bans
PARWIZ KAROKHAIL
UN, aid organization officials have visited country this month
Needs of Afghanistan a 'priority,' top UN aid chief said last week
KABUL: Afghans are calling for more international support following increasingly restrictive edicts issued by the Taliban administration, as the US special representative for Afghanistan began a trip on Monday aimed at refining an international response to support the country.
The Taliban has introduced a series of restrictions on Afghan women since taking control of the country in 2021, including barring women from university and secondary schools. Authorities in December ordered all NGOs to ban women employees, though those in health were allowed to return to work earlier this month.
The moves drew widespread condemnation, with high-ranking UN officials and leaders of major international organizations visiting Afghanistan this month to try and reverse the Taliban's crackdown on women and girls.
Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West will travel to Pakistan, Germany and Switzerland on a mission to "consult with partners, Afghans and humanitarian relief organizations," the US Department of State said in a statement, in one of the latest efforts to address the situation in the South Asian country.
"SRA West will work with counterparts to refine a unified regional and international response that reflects a collective commitment to Afghan women and girls' rights, and access to vital aid," the statement added.
Afghans are hopeful that West's trip could benefit Afghanistan, with some urging the international community to increase pressure on the Taliban.
"No doubt this mission will help in the case of Afghanistan. I believe if this mission is implemented in a way to find a solution for the misery of Afghan people it will most definitely work," Mohibullah Sharif, an Afghan political expert based in Kabul, told Arab News.
"However, if like previously, the mission is only for securing the interests of regional and international players, this will bring no good for Afghans and will worsen the situation."
Life in Afghanistan has grown increasingly difficult for women, said Shamsia Hassanzadah, a member of the Afghan Women's Network and former director of Star Education Center in Kabul, who was affected by the ban on women working for NGOs.
"Women in NGOs should be allowed to work because a woman's work is very important for their family economy," Hassanzadah told Arab News, adding that she was the breadwinner in her family.
"We want the international community to bring further pressure on the current government of Afghanistan and we believe such steps and measures will help to decrease the Taliban's restrictions toward Afghan women," she added.
"It will also prevent or even stop the Taliban from issuing further decrees against women's education and employment in Afghanistan."
Afghanistan needs more support from the UN and the global community, according to women's rights activist Farimah Nikkhwah, who was also affected by the recent ban.
"In the current situation, Afghanistan needs the special attention of the UN and the international community to prevent the negative and illogical actions of the Taliban," Nikkhwah told Arab News.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said last week following a Kabul visit that Taliban ministers are working on new guidelines to allow women more freedom in humanitarian work.
"The needs of Afghanistan, for us, are of the highest importance because of its people, because of its obvious, deserved priority for us in our humanitarian world. The need for Afghanistan to be properly serviced by humanitarian operations is also a global priority," Griffiths told AFP in an interview.
When it comes to Afghan girls' education, pleas are also coming from within the country, said Dr. Hatef Mokhtar, head of the Afghanistan International Strategic Studies Center.
"Afghans want Afghanistan to come out of isolation," Mokhtar told Arab News.
"The opening of Afghan girls' schools is not the voice of the world, but it is the voice of the Afghans themselves. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should take this issue seriously and open the girls' schools as soon as possible."
Topics: Afghanistan Thomas West Taliban United States of America (USA) United Nations (UN)
UN deputy chief calls on Muslim nations to help Taliban move from 13th century into the 21st


text:
A library of React components created in "Creating Reusable React Components" on Pluralsight.

## Install
```
npm install ps-react
```

## Issues
[Here's a list of current known issues in the course](https://github.com/coryhouse/ps-react/issues).

## Docs
[Component documentation](http://coryhouse.github.io/ps-react)

## Component Hall of Fame 🎉
Here's a list of components built by your fellow viewers!

Submit a pull request to add your link here... :)

## React Component libraries
Here's a list of popular component libraries I mention at the end of the course:
- [Material UI](http://material-ui.com)
- [React Toolbox](http://react-toolbox.com)
- [React Bootstrap](http://react-bootstrap.github.io)
- [React Foundation](http://react.foundation)
- [Blueprint](http://blueprintjs.com)
- [Ant Design](http://ant.design)
- [Office UI Fabric](http://dev.office.com/fabric)
- [React MD](http://react-md.mlaursen.com)
- [Elemental UI](http://elemental-ui.com)
- [Rebass](http://jxnblk.com/rebass/)
- [Pivital Styleguide](http://styleguide.cfapps.io)
- [Cloudflare UI](http://cloudflare.github.io)
- [Semantic UI React](http://react.semantic-ui.com)
- [Grommet](http://grommet.github.io)
- [Mulesoft Components](http://ux.mulesoft.com)
- [Belle](http://nikgraf.github.io/belle)
- [MUI](http://muicss.com)
- [React Desktop](http://reactdesktop.js.org)
- [React Photonkit](http://react-photonkit.github.io)
- [TouchstoneJS](http://touchstonejs.io)
- [Onsen UI](http://onsen.io/react)
- [Many more on awesome-react](http://github.com/enaqx/awesome-react)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
site officiel - archives inédites
Prog Archives
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
Prognut
One-shot French band of 1978. Ange meets KC (mid-period) meets ?UZ. Superb effort!!!!, but very difficult to digest...I would not recommend this to the casual prog listener. Very French at times,even symphonic and in other passages very dark and beautiful not as much as UZ; with layers of keys, and ocassional dissonant drifting......definitively for the open minded progheads, this one in a grower and for me deliver 100%!!!!!
lor68
This is one of the best dissonant and experimental works in the vein of King Crimson and with such a typical dramatic and dark romantic mood-often "Ange-oriented"- ever produced in France!! The similarities with a few albums from the "Zehul Music" is evident here, talking about some less harsh aspects of this latter school, but in my opinion it doesn't reach the same inspiration as within for example works like "Eros" by Dun.Nevertheless actually, unlike "Eros","Arachnoid" sometimes is more accessible for whom is not into the most dissonant music passages of this "crimsonian" style, which seldom is pure avant- garde music inside the present album, despite of maintaining a great tension...at the end you could also add another half star at least,because this issue dated 1978 is close to the genius of a masterwork!!
loserboy
ARACHNOÏD were a short lived 70's band whose debut album marked another excellent example of French dark progressive rock. ARACHNOÏD were obviously heavily influenced by the music of KING CRIMSON as well as that of PULSAR, SHYLOCK and ANGE. The end result is one of my favourite albums from 70's France Prog and IMOH is a masterpiece. Musically this band were excellent with tons of vintage keyboards via the 2 keyboards in the band (Pierre Kuti, Francois Faugieres playing Farfisa organ, mellotron, piano, Fender electric and Korg synths). The vocals are well done and very aggressive and resonate for me in a similar vein to that of ANGE's Christian DeCamps. The clear KING CRIMSON comparison comes totally from their sound and musical transitions which echo with a dark yet symphonic flavours. Lead guitarist Nicolas Popowski also adds his FRIPP -like fret work throughout the album. Overall a fantastic album and one I would suggest any fans of bands like SHYLOCK and PULSAR will definitely love this work. Highly recommended.
slowfire85
My favorite album of the french dark prog subgenre. Comparable to the works of Ange, Pulsar, Flamen Dialis, and Shylock, but heavier and darker than any of those in my opinion. Most people don't seem to care for the french/spoken word type lyrics, but I think they work to make the album sounds creepier. The band employs two keyboard players, two guitar players, several different vocalists on each song, and of course a tight rhythm section. The symphonic parts are constantly changing between the two keyboardists, building layers of dark atmosphere atop each other's work. The symphonies come from a mixture mellotron, farfisa, MS 10, Korg Synthesizers, and piano, and dominate most of the album. Some nice spaced out guitar riffs build upon the symphonic atmosphere with some nice fuzzy distortion. The first song, Le Chamadere, is a nearly 14 minute long dark, atmospheric masterpiece that gets the album off to a great start, showing the fullness of the bands abilities. Piano Caveau starts with a nice piano solo, then the mellotron and synthesizers interupt to send the song spinning into darkness, only to return to the same piano solo as at the beginning. Lyrical content varies from song to song, some vocal parts are sung, chanted or read agressively like spoken word. If you can get past the french lyrics anyone who likes dark/symphonic prog will enjoy this little known gem.
This is it! French prog sound! Dark jazzy-kind of Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Yes. This is art. Nice pianos, flutes, guitars, drums, vocals (at last pure French, like from movies) and sounds - each of those are interesting, and the symphonic compositions are just essential. High and low everywhere, synths and mellotron layers, I can's see why this could be too weird for some people. I'm surprised there's so little listeners for this gem. The music is also progressive enough for me. This is not Italian Symphonic Prog,this isn't Zeuhl, this isn't Psychedelic Rock... this is quite much space symphonic rock. But which is convincing me about Arachnoïd is the darkness of it.
Mellotron Storm
This is a dark, synth laden record from France. This was their one and only release, and it is truly amazing !
The first song "Le Chamadere" is one of the best songs I have ever heard ! Opening with eerie synth notes for about a minute, we are then graced with a guitar melody that is incredible.The melody of this song is great, as are the synth passages. "Piano Caveau" opens with spoken words and piano. As the drums are keeping the beat we are treated to waves of mellotron and bubbling synths. We are graced with more piano as things get quiet.
"In The Screen Side Of Your Eyes" features flute and gentle vocals, and the synths sound great. "Toutes Ces Images" has gentle vocals for about two minutes, then guitar and drums come in creating a beautiful sound, with synths and mellotron making things sound even better. "La Guepe" has such a heavenly sound thanks to the mellotron and synths, sax comes in later, and as words are spoken a driving rhythm greets our ears. Synths dominate the final two songs which isn't too surprising given that there are two keyboardist's.
This is an absolutely amazing release, that is very easy to recommend.
Finnforest
Very dark and forboding French synth prog that is like music for a seance or for your kids haunted house on Halloween. Complex rich textures that make this a must for lovers of keyboard albums. If you like generally happy or upbeat melodies you will want to pass on this one even though it is critically acclaimed. As always, the folks at Musea have done an outstanding job and there is a thick and tasty booklet with a history of the band and photos in the CD release. There is also a generous slate of bonus tracks to enjoy.
I don't understand the Shylock comparisons although I can hear some of the Ange and Pulsar ones. Good album even though it's a bit of a downer.
Arachnoïd's only album is a late addition to the original prog period and threatens to outdo most of what came before - too late to be considered revolutionary but in good standing to be considered the best example of refined symphonic progressive rock.
"Le Chamandere" starts a little coyly, but soon blossoms into a buzzsaw of Ange-tinged guitar and synth fury; any part of the song would be an appropriate leitmotif for a moody anti-hero, as it is both heroic and ugly, disciplined yet hectic. This lengthy song about a word I can't seem to find in my french dictionary is composed of many segments and shifting moods, but it flows correctly - unlike many of their peers, Arachnoïd's songwriting could never be said to be hasty and slapped together, and there are no unnecessarily contrived moments on the album. Considering that it was written in the disjointed era of post-punk, that touch might win it a star just by itself.
"Piano Caveau" is perhaps more unsettling, with a sequence that snatches the root chord away from you immediately, and then suspends you in frosty church organ chords and sudden attacks of strained vocals that fade in and out. All the musicians have a lot of space to impress during this track, and impress they do. "In the Screen Side of Your Eyes" initially feels a little traditional in comparison, as though a troubadour with a taste for King Crimson's early albums had seen fit to write a tribute, but don't distress - there are still surprises in store, and for those still not satisfied, a succession of fragile melodies awaits - at the last, it's another Arachnoïd song rather than the sum of their influences. "Toutes ces Images" follows on more or less immediately (although perhaps not on the LP version - I have a feeling that the split lies between these songs) with a similar feel and consistency but progresses to rock out with plenty of soloing over busy rhythms boosted by solemn choruses. Despite the power of the song, it remains in a minor key throughout and gets downright sinister in places. The piece gets so tempestuous and apocalyptic that only King Crimson's "Fracture" can be comparable in menace and quality. This isn't the longest song, but for me, it is the centrepiece.
Next, we have "Le Guepe" which opens in a fashion not dissimilar to Art Zoyd's flights of doom-laden fancy, before introducing a rather bluesy guitar component. No vocals until you're three minutes in, at which time you're treated to a somewhat muffled conversation. I'm no good with the french language so I might be missing something essential - and that's always a worry with these theatrical progressive outfits - but the tone of the voices do well to amplify the intimidating approach of the music beneath. Oh, and there's that scream.
"L'Adieu au Pierrot" attempts to re-introduce moments of less macabre beauty - the song is thoughtfully composed and not over-orchestrated. Finally, we have the appropriately named "Final" which opens in a manner similar to our contemporary post-sludge bands such as Isis; however, once the song gets going it reveals itself to be another hectic storm based around alternating, vicious solos. It's a great closer with a justifiable amount of bombast. (Bonus tracks come next, but I never review those things, and frankly it's better for the albums score if I don't consider them at all.)
If you like your progressive rock as black as night, alchemically inventive and mostly unsullied by vocals, Arachnoïd won't fail you.
Sean Trane
During the 70's, France was one of the champions of dark & sombre prog rock, ranging from Magma to Art Zoyd and many more, resulting in Shub Niggurath and Wapassou during the 80's as well. All of these groups stuck fairly closely with modern classical music as one of their main influences, and somehow Arachnoid was not that far away from these groups, even though they weren't nearly as complex as these afore mentioned groups. Actually their kind of dark symphonic music seems like a cross of Crimson, Genesis, Ange, Shylock and others French groups of the moment (but to me no Atoll, Carpe Diem or Pulsar), but traces of Genesis, Magma (some Zeuhl moments) and Dün. Arachnoid came from the Parisian suburbs and the group's life lasted a small decade under one form or another, but only managing one album, but it will remain one of the most legendary (and produced by Phil Desombres >> look up his entry), not least because of the striking hand spider-like artwork. The group uses a double keyboard (a mixture mellotron, Farfisa, MS 10, Korg Synthesizers, and piano), double guitar attack, and has at least four regular lead singers (Nicolas, Patrick, François, Yves and Marc, plus guests), which allowed for much flexibility, including an odd flute in the only English-sung track of the album.
Right from the eerie Moog intro of La Chamadère, you know that you'll plunge into a deep angst-laden trip into the realms of human reason, of reaching treason. This 14-min epic goes through a ton of ambiances, from the gloomy to the lugubrious, but manages to remain soft enough to fascinate throughout its duration. Indeed the vocals (shared by Popowsky, Woindrich and Meryl) and lyrics (often handled by externs to the core of the group) are some of the more characteristic traits (a bit like Ange's vocals definitely alter the rest of their music) of this rather uncanny and slightly awe-striking album. The piano and spoken intro of Piano Caveau (cellar or vault piano) segues into a non-piano (acoustic anyway) lengthy instrumental energetic passage that will last until the piano finale takes over and ends it in a very classical fashion. The English-sung Screen Side is probably the album's weaker moments, but partly because of "surprising" recording sound levels.
Having never seen the vinyl, I'd be hard pressed to know which track was on which side, but there are some definitive Genesis influences in the intro of Toutes Ces lmages. Indeed everything in this track spells a gloomy Genesis, especially the Banks-like mellotron, but slowly metamorphosing into an early Crimson ambiance, reminiscent of Shylock's second (and superb) album. Easily the album's highlight, its Crimsonian constant schizoid mood being breathtaking at times. The following Guèpe (wasp) is circling around your stunned mind for the intro of this wild track that delves into Zeuhl, not like Magma in the vocal delivery, but more like Eskaton (especially if you know their Fiction album), and crazed-out instrumentation often nearing internment in an asylum. The quiet Adieu Au Pierrot and its crazy linked Final are a fitting outro for the original album, again ogling between Crimson and Shylock, with a pitch of VdGG doom thrown in for added spices. Too bad that the sound levels were again defective art recording time.
The Musea re-issue comes with four bonus tracks, one of which would be a real bonus, if it had been better recorded. Somehow closest to La Guèpe, but without the Zeuhl groove, L'Hiver is indeed well in the line of the album's Zoyd nightmarish feel. The following three live tracks are interesting but eventually confusing in their nomenclatures. Indeed if Le Pierrot starts out as L'Adieu Au Pierrot, it lasts a full six times its studio length and gets added some lyrics, while L'Adieu is much reminiscent of the studio Final. Most likely these two live tracks' value is to show how this double-header could/should've evolved. The final bonus track is an alternate take to Caveau Piano, and represent limited interest.
Arachnoid's sole album is definitely a small masterpiece, but certainly not a chef d'oeuvre, but most Schizoidheads should enjoy this reissue tremendously, despite some fairly amateur twists, it cannot deceive you, provided you give it more than a distracted ear the first few times around, because it's a slow grower.
Cesar Inca
French sextet Arachnoid is one of those undisputed nice surprises that prog collectors meet along the way and cherish as a hidden treasure. The band's eponymous only album is a fine example of the gusto for darkness and the sense of drama that are featured trademarks of the French symphonic prog tradition. The theatre factor is very influenced by 71-73 Ange and "Grimaces"-era Mona Lisa, plus a noticeable addition of 73-75 Crimsonian tension and recurrent hints at the heavier side of Pulsar (first two albums). The latter two aforesaid factors are mostly generated from guitarist Nicolas Popowski's deliveries, which usually display traces of anger, fear, density and mystery in a most powerful fashion: his riffs, solos and ornaments are all over the place, many times surpassing the deliveries undertaken by the two keyboardsmen. This is not to say that the keyboards' role is subdued, since the grand piano basic melodies, synth solos, organ/mellotron layers and electric piano jazzy flows are also quite relevant for the compositions' developments. The resulting environment elaborated by all instrumentalists is uneasy and hypnotic, full of darkness, sometimes in the shape of a disturbing fog, other times in the shape of a melancholic shade. There are some occasional heavy passages in which the band seems to lean close to the creepy sort of RIO practiced by Univers Zero, but the main framework is symphonic in pure French style. The lead vocalist is not as protagonist as the frontmen from Ange, Atoll or Mona Lisa, but his singing and recitations really help to fulfill the attempted atmospheres (even if he's not the most proficient member in the band, all things considered). One big advantage that the "Arachnoid" album has regarding the listening experience reserved for the collector is the opening mini-epic 'Le Chamadère', whose 13+ minute span comprises an interesting series of motifs that seem to emulate the usual sequence of a horror movie: apparent tranquility, first big moment of terror, recurrent intensity that lead to the second big moment of terror, a mystery full of varied nuances, one final blow of terror, and ultimately, the closing tranquility that isn't as tranquil as it should be since the terrifying menace seems to have grown into a latent state. The instrumental 'Piano Caveau' (besides a brief recitation) is calmer, with a lovely piano sonata that serves as a brief prologue: the main body spices things up in a sort of refurbishment of old Pulsar within a Carpe Diem- style jazz-friendly framework. The rhythm assumes a more evidently important role for the elaboration and maintenance of the overall mood, which is not entirely devoid of tension and mystery. The softer song in the album is the Engligh-sung 'In the Screen Side of Your Eyes', which includes flute lines provided by a guest musician (Philippe Honore) - it is quite bucolic indeed, excepting a brief interlude in which the pace goes a bit faster. Actually, I would have loved to see this track a bit more developed, since it features an interesting variation in the album's general mood. But that's OK. The next two tracks, 'Toutes Ces Images' and 'La Guêpe', complete the band's main guidelines quite adequately. 'Toutes Ces Images' starts on a very melancholic mood, almost distant, like a troubadour's solitary song in the middle of a dreamy realm; then, for the instrumental development that fills the last 5 minutes, things go gradually wilder, from a pompous manifestation of grayish unrest to a neurotic, sinister display of Crimson-meets-Pulsar. 'La Guêpe' has a more extroverted mood all the way, alternating semi-jazzy grooves with pulsational rocking cadences; the sung part is a real demented circus (a-la Ange's "Cimetière des Arlequins"). This is a very climatic piece, but not the final one - the pairing of 'L'adieu au Pierrot' and 'Final' sets a reiteration of the two preceding tracks' moods. The bonus tracks don't have the benefits of a good audio production, but they manage to reveal how genuinely energetic the band was on stage. Even the musical concepts of 'L'adieu au Pierrot' and 'Final' are more elaborated. This is a great symphonic rock item that should grace any good prog collection - the two Arachnoids, band and album, deserve the high praise gathered in all progressive e-zines.
AdamHearst
Arachnoid is an aptly named band; their spidery music creeps and crawls through dark dilapidated corridors in a haunted house... there is a Fellini-film quality to their nightmarish compositions.
This was one of the very best bands of the 70's French Symphonic Prog movement, and sadly they have remained quite obscure... perhaps a result of the melodramatic 'French theatrical' vocal style (that started with Ange) and so many bands from that country seem to share. This band is every bit as good as Ange... if not better.
The first song (Le Chamadere) is the gargantuan chef-d'oeuvre of this self-titled album... it is epic, masterful, and overflowing with ominous esoteric mysticism. There are many different themes and moods explored... each one highly engaging and fascinating. Lead singer Marc Meryl possesses a furious and sometimes frightening vocal delivery: alternating between hoarse screams and ghostly whispers... he has an excellent singing voice on the melodic sections as well.
'La Guepe' is another highlight... a song full of terrifying chants and voices-in-the-head insanity. This is the sound of going mad put to tape.
The music is composed largely of densely layered synthesizers from the band's two keyboardists; the songs are melodic and have a heavy atmosphere of gloom and experimental strangeness. The band often play with a raw hard edge and the rhythm section deliver a tight bludgeoning performance throughout.
There are many softer sections, but they still contain an air of arcane darkness and foreboding. Every song is captivating and the album has a great flow from track-to-track... it holds your interest for the whole duration.
I strongly recommend Arachnoid to all fans of 'French Theatrical Prog', and anyone into the darker side of Symphonic Prog.
Arachnoïd is the debut and sole full-length studio album by French symphonic prog rock act Arachnoïd. The album was originally released in 1978 but has since been re-released on CD by Musea Records with 4 bonus tracks.
The music is dark and sombre symphonic prog rock. Lots of mellotron, piano, organ and synths create the atmosphere in the music. There´s some really good guitar parts here too and a bit of flute as well. The music is mostly instrumental but there are occasional French language vocals and speaking. Most people tend to think that the vocals are weak but I must say that I enjoy them. They are not outstanding but suit the music well. Comparisons can be made to bands like King Crimson, Genesis ( in their darkest hour), Anekdoten, Areknamés and I also hear a bit of Goblin here because of the sometimes eerie horror atmosphere on the album. The seven original tracks are the highlights on the album so take the bonus tracks as a free gift.
The musicianship is excellent. Fans of the sound of multible keyboard players should find this album very interesting as there is so much going on at the same time here. Really fashinating. The rythm section is also very strong and powerful.
The production is warm and pleasant yet with the more edgy end-seventies sound pushing on.
This is one of those forgotten gems that progressive rock fans are always on the look-out for. An excellent dark symphonic prog rock album and a welcome addition to my collection. It´s really too bad Arachnoïd only released this sole album but I guess the climate for progressive rock in 1978 wasn´t really that warm anymore. A deserved 4 star rating and a big recommendation from me.
Unlike most French progressive acts from the 1970s, Arachnoid didn't rely too heavily on fiery instrumentation and overly theatrical vocals. Rather, the band builds up several layers of tension and brooding through harmonized guitar and keyboard lines. The music never rests too comfortably, but neither does it tire the ears.
Tracks such as the opener "Le Chamadere" develop more as a slow burn, but always with an atmospheric edge. The production may not be stellar, but it doesn't detract to any major degree. In fact, it probably adds to the somewhat raw feel found throughout the album.
There will be ineveitable comparisons to King Crimson since the band is A) French and B) dark, but I also hear a mix of Twelfth Night (particularly "Live at the Target") and to a certain degree, Joy Division (who were in action at the same time as this release). The addition of bonus live tracks are a nice touch and make this album well worth checking out.
Negoba
Dark Symphonic Gem from the Classic Period
Arachnoid's single, self-titled album truly is one of the forgotten gems of the classic prog era. Coming late (1978), the album is a delightful mixture of dark harmony and symphonic beauty that approaches masterpiece level. The sound is a mixture of RPI at its darkest, space rock, and classic King Crimson-y prog. The closest approximation to this band I own is the one-off RPI band Semiramis and Brazil's Bacamarte, though this album is a little less guitar-oriented than either of those. The band members (and vocals) are French, but this is actually an excellent entry point into foreign-sung prog for native English speakers. Given its fairly singular sound, a song-by-song may help give a better picture of the band.
1. Le Chamadere (13:49) The Album begins on a slow crescendo with an echo-ey synth joined by a whirly guitar, instruments coming in bit by bit before the intense male vocals enter. The band's characteristic fuzz guitar comes in around 2:20 for a teaser of the more chaotic parts to come. When it returns, it is in dissonant harmony threatening to capsize the song. The vocals become angry and strident, with a cultish chorus supporting. On close listen the basic melodic theme gets a little repetitive, but there is so much layering that this easily goes unnoticed when taking in the entire piece. The epic never gets over-long and there are enough builds and releases of tension to let the listener breathe.
2. Piano Caveau (7:18) Starting with free spoken word and a clean piano playing alternately tense and beautiful chords, this song implies a lush and pastoral tone before breaking into a polyrhythmic drum pattern and forboding organ. Midway, a multi-layered spooky theme comes in that is one the most memorable of the album.
3. In the Screen Side Of Your Eyes (4:03) This song is the odd man out. It's sung in English, much mellower, with allusions to Genesis (flute, mellotron, quick breaks.) It has some very close similarities to Deep Purple's late classic "This Time Around / Owed to G." The composition seems a little underdeveloped. Not bad but easily the weakest track on the record.
4. Toutes Ces Images (8:04) Now we're back into it!!! After a slow, delicate intro that reminds me of Harmonium, the band produces a midsection that is simply amazing. Dark, heavy, eerie but tuneful and rhythmic, this is dark symphonic at it best. When I think of the album, this is what I remember. Both guitar and keys solo, and though the technical aspects of the playing is relatively straightforward, the texture created is simply breathtaking.
5. La Guepe (8:39) This one starts off with a spacy key pad that sounds like metallic bees buzzing around your head. We then get a clean guitar groove over tense chords and a staccato bass. Much of this song is performed with spoken word lyrics in French, and I'm left a little lost without understanding the story. The music continues in the same vein as has been established throughout the album. Minor chording, quick rhythms, fuzz guitars, plenty of changes in time and mood.
6. L'Adieu Au Pierrot (0:57) A short and relatively sweet reprieve on arpeggiated guitar and synth. Really just a transition piece.
7. Final (3:02) The band decides to let it fly on the last piece. A frenetic piece of minor groove, signature fuzz lines interspersed with distorted synth, all the elements that have defined the album come together in a grand finale.
By the time this album is over, this listener is quite ready to move on to something a little lighter. While the album is brilliant overall, it is just so emotionally heavy that it's hard to give it a masterpiece rating. I finish it dripping and sweaty, ready to fall into a heap, not excited and ready to start it over for another ride. I suppose that may be expected for an album this darkly intense, but the fact remains that there is always a slight bitter taste left after this experience. I still can't nail it down.
As other reviewers have noted, if you want happy and uplifting, run away. If you like spacy, darkly intense symphonic prog, you may never find a better album. That is, this may be as good or better than any KC I've heard. 4+ star album rounded down by the slimmest of margins.
tszirmay
A one-shot wonder
Like some unhinged tarantula, this French legend exudes a dreaded horror from their prog pores, deeply despairing and obliquely obscure, searing towards the basements cells where the real kooks are restrained. The mood is gruesome and electric, the flair for the dramatic and theatral firmly ensconced in the ensemble playing, woven with intricate sonic patterns and fanatical French vocals from Marc Meryl. The whopping 13 minute + "La Chamadère" is a tortuous torrent of fizzing sound and voiced fury, the drums and bass foraging wildly in a near zeuhl fashion (read = brooding and intense) that underline the slight Magma influence, infused with heady doses of compatriots Ange and Shylock as well, blended craftily with a rather obvious KC tinge (period circa Poseidon, Islands and Lizard). The dual keyboard line-up does not always transcend itself in genius but here Francois Faugieres' modified Farfisa organ (a real treat) and the mellotron rage brightly, while Pierre Kuti's piano, e-piano and synths seduce the prog listener lustily, exalted further by a spraying Frippoid rant from Nicholas Popowski and thus creating an unending ushering into the unknown and the unexpected. The highly cinematographic "Piano Caveau" offers piano and distantly serene French poetry, a magnificent ivory interlude that only enhances the experimental nature of this talented lot. The arrangement gets quickly quirky and shovels some heavy grooves into the fire, with the various keys spicing things up and the frenetic guitar raging alongside. When the elegant piano returns to finish the piece off, the bliss has finally arrived. The short "In the Screen Side of Your Eyes" is a gentler yet still intricate breed, with subtle playing from all the instrumentalists, a fluttering flute sugaring the proceedings very adroitly. "Toutes ces Images" is at first wispy and fragile perhaps even dreamier then expected , a swelling intro that morphs into a definitely bruising foray , the raunchy guitar slicing and slashing through the thick atmospherics , adding some spooky element to the brew. There is a subcutaneous sense of paranoia in their musical style, a decidedly strong Kafka/De Maupassant psychosis that gives the music a certain razor sharp edge that will not vanish. Popowski's original axe rant is spacey and extreme, unhinged and abrasive. "La Guêpe" (the wasp) is my choice track here , an 8 minute mini- opera with multiple vocalists and sections that simply mesmerize, the bass sweeping along and the drums marshalling the beat, while the keys decorate the horizon and the synths bubble with authority, in a "très jazz" mode , assorted spoken voices evolve into some frenzied vocal hurlings that would make Christian Décamps proud, highly theatric and overwrought but we are dealing with Molière here , not Shakespeare and the delirium is apparent in the "march of the metallic insects" invading the speakers. Grisly thoughts are then dissuaded by some old school guitar-driven hard psychedelia that is simply adorable. This is a tremendous slice of oblique prog that will sear your brain, totally wild and free. A short synthy minute goes by before the fitting "Final" enters the décor, flush with insane noodlings, bizarre rhythms verging on dissonance and a eerie aura that is hard to dismiss , very far removed from conventional symphonic, neo, space or electronic prog. My copy comes with 4 bonus tracks, the first 3 live pieces that maintain this schizoid impression in a concert setting and an instrumental rework of the "Piano Caveau" . This disc while not perfect has an undeniable originality and a precious veneer that was recorded at a time when the prog star had been on the decline and yet survived until recently receiving relative cult status among aficionados . One thing is for sure, if you collect French prog or bizarre records, Arachnoid will crawl under your skin . 4.5 French webs
Dobermensch
A fairly ordinary Zeul / Prog album with some definite highlights followed by many lowlights. Fans of Univers Zero will really like this, guaranteed.
It's quite like 'King Crimson' in parts with lots of stops and starts and moments of silence. About 60 percent of "Arachnoid' is instrumental.
Not nearly as dark and heavy as Magma on who's genre they decided to infiltrate, but it's still quite good.
Just too normal to strike fear into the hearts of us Zeuhl people. This may be a bit unfair, as 'Arachnoid' is actually ok. It scrapes three stars by the skin of its teeth.
I must admit, I do like the sleeve which reminds me of the time I punched a pile of paper instead of a customer at my work in a printing factory, breaking my knuckles.
Stupid boy!
zravkapt
A lot of great prog albums come from France and this is one of them. Their self-titled only album from 1978. This music on this album is similar to both the theatrical rock of Ange and the darker, mysterious vibe of Art Zoyd. This band features two keyboardists, which is usually a good thing in my book(but not always). None of the vocals or individual instruments really stand out on their own. I feel this benefits the music; the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts kinda thing. This is under 'Symphonic Prog' here on PA, but I think it would be of interest to those who like artists in Eclectic and RIO/Avant as well.
The beginning of the album starts with a very brief but strange annoying buzz sound. Unless the CD I listened to had a defect. If that was done on purpose, then it was interesting but ultimately unnecessary. "Le Chamadere" is the longest and best song on the album. Some eerie synth sounds that gets more jazzy before chorused guitar comes in. Then bass, drums and more synth. Vocals in French. Later some fuzzy guitars. Drums drop out then you hear a child's voice. After some angry vocals and chanting. Then great wah- bass and military style drumming. Some whispering. Music stops and more whispering before music comes back.
The music changes halfway through the song to a more symphonic part. Synth makes bird- like noises. Later hi-hat and fuzzy guitar with some electric piano. A synth solo before tempo changes with military drumming. Near the end it gets more symphonic with talking. Ends with weird synth noises. "Piano Caveau" begins with talking and piano. Later drums, bass and what sounds like organ. There is also a unique sounding percussion instrument that I'm not sure what it's called. After some phased synth which sounds like vocoder. Then a wah guitar solo. More phased synth or vocoder. Back to just piano.
"In The Screen Side Of Your Eyes" has lyrics in English. It starts off a fairly straight forward ballad with some flute. A more energenic section before it goes symphonic rock. More flute. "Toutes Ces Images" starts with what sounds like the last song played backwards. French vocals are back. Easy going before fuzzy guitars and drums come in. The drumming in this song is really good. A synth solo. Music calms down again and goes into a symphonic part. The song gets louder and more intense before it ends.
"La Guepe" goes into a jazzy part before some good drumming. Another jazzy section with strummed guitar and a synth solo. Some people talking, then laughing and theatrical singing. You hear what sounds like "meta-leak" over and over. Tempo gets faster then another synth solo. Then guitar solo. Music calms down then picks up with "huh" vocals and another synth solo. "Final" starts with drum roll. The bass sounds really good in this song. Basically just synth and guitar solos.
This is one of the better prog albums from 1978. The bonus songs on the CD have bad sound quality and are generally nothing special. Overall, great French prog. 4 stars.
Bonnek
Arachnoid is a 1978 anachronism, an album that was definitely not well-adapted to its time, but nevertheless it's a remarkably solid one, probably one of the best classic Prog albums from the end of the 70's, with an eclectic style reminiscent of the symphonic dramatics of Ange and the dark and chromatic chord progressions of King Crimson. It also has a slightly spacey approach to the keyboard playing, which are much more upfront then the guitars, but even for a "keyboards-in-rock-skeptic" like myself the result is entirely pleasing.
Everything holds together very well, the compositions are lively and dynamic, and there's no soloist detracting the attention from the essence. All performers play very fluently and intuitively, with a nice organic and very rocking sound. In other words, an album with an edge. Recommended for fans of prog hybrids with elements from Symphonic Prog as well as Avant and Space-rock. The band called it quits after this album. Had they released this 5 years earlier the future might have looked a lot brighter for them!
PS. If you want to check a more modern French album with a similar vibe, I'd recommend Nil's "Nil Novo Sub Sole"
stefro
France's eclectic progressive rock scene produced a handful of impressive groups during the 1970s, the likes of Pulsar, Atoll, Ange and Magma each cooking up of their own distinctive brew of Gallic art-rock to usually excellent effect. However, whilst those groups managed to cultivate long(ish) careers and loyal fan-bases, the little-known collective Arachnoid were one of the many who belong that large club of groups who made just one album before disappearing into rock 'n' roll obscurity. A difficult, arty, overly-complex affair, Arachnoid's addition to the prog canon is a typically European concoction, both heavy on atmosphere and intricate wordplay yet light on melodic hooks and fist-pumping riffs. Ignored during their prime, Arachnoid are just one of the thousands of European acts who have gained from the creation of the French label Musea, an imprint designed to house groups as un-commercial as these. As a result, the group's one-and-only release is now regarded as an important part of the French scene, though just why it is remains(to this reviewer at least) a bit of a mystery. Unlike, say, 'Halloween' by Pulsar or Ange's first two abums, this high-brow courting collection lacks any real punch, proving a decidedly impenetrable and tedious listen. Certain tracks, such as the gothic opener 'Le Chamadere' occasionally flex the group's instrumental muscles, yet all too often the slow pace and overly fussy arrangements merely frustrate. This is deliberately obtuse prog-rock featuring the very essence of why so many people find the genre pompous and unfathomable, whilst also showcasing exactly why many European acts struggle to find any kind of audience outside of their homelands. Yes, there's talent behind 'Arachnoid', and yes, the album does suffer from poor production values, yet plenty of groups have overcome these barriers to create complex and accessible music. A fundamentally flawed release, this is one of those overly-praised items that has remained obscure for a very good reason.
Progfan97402
I finally got me a copy of this album, an original LP on Divox, no less! I've been aware of this group for many years, probably since about 2000. This French group put out their one and only album in 1979, but the original LP is extremely hard to find, and it's been said only 300 copies were made. Hans Pokora, who published a series of Record Collector Dreams books gives a one to six disc rating to all titles listed, one disc meaning a rare LP that's really not impossible to find, and you might be lucky to find it at a reasonable price, to six disc which are so rare that you likely don't own a copy (usually LPs that rare are test pressings, acetates, or very limited amount of pressings, maybe 50 or so copies). The Arachnoid LP is given three discs from Pokora, on the same league as Museo Rosenbach's Zarathustra, Jose Cid's 10.000 Anos Depois Entre Venus E Marte, L'Uovo di Colombo's only album, Jumbo's DNA, and so on (I have no LPs in my collection Pokora rated higher than three, which means image finding LPs rated higher!). But years later Musea reissued the Arachnoid album, and for good reason, to let more progheads get the chance to hear this without having to bend over backwards trying to find an original LP. For some reason, there seems to be that certain characteristic common within French prog. Like theatrical vocals, angular King Crimson-type guitar riffing, spacy synthesizers, and odd sounding phased organs. Arachnoid has been frequently compared with the likes of Ange, Pulsar, Shylock, and King Crimson, which sounds about right. It's strange how several of these French albums I've heard feature that same fuzz lead guitar Gilbert Gandil used in Pulsar, like this group, as well as Archaia. This album also has some nice use of Mellotron. Synths appear to be a Korg, as it definitely does not sound like MiniMoog or an ARP Odyssey. Although there are vocals, they don't dominate, although there's one passage where the vocalist starts screaming. This is the kind of prog that would cause the regular Huey Lewis & the News (or any other such similar ultra-mainstream pop/rock act) fan running and screaming for the hills. I am not too surprised this was Arachnoid's only album, given it was released in 1979, when there was a declining interest in prog by the public, not to mention the limited amount of copies pressed of the album meant it was obscure right from the start (if Arachnoid recorded a few years earlier, they might have had a bigger label backing them up and a probable chance of recording more than one album). For all the years I've heard great stuff about this band, well they are right! One of the best prog albums I've heard from 1979, and is essential.
By the way, since I own the original LP, just to let everyone know, the mix differs from the reissue on Musea. The opening cut, for example, around the part where you hear a little girl speak something in French and those synths kick in, on the original Divox LP, you hear these "Ahhhh" choruses in the background. The Musea version omits those "Ahs" and replaces them with some sort of organ or harmonium. It's luckily not as drastically altered as Neuschwanstein's Battlement, but enough to warrant seeking out the original LP (if you can find and afford a copy, that is).
siLLy puPPy
A strange freaky album by a band that released this one sole album and then disappeared into the nether world. A highly addictive symphonic take on the darkness of Univers Zero mixed with zeuhl and influences from King Crimson and the spaciness of Pink Floyd, it's one of those albums that you can hear influences but the sum of the parts results in a sound that reminds you of none other partly because of the multiple keyboards in use and the eerily spooky symphonic effects that would surely be appropriate for haunted houses!
Mostly instrumental but some French vocals similar to Christian Decamps from Ange do pop up occasionally. This album is predominantly about keyboards whether it be symphonic or dark and sinister sounding piano runs but there are also some good guitars. Very interesting and unique and demands several listens for it to sink in. The tracks are long and take their time to fully play out. I have the CD with bonus tracks and they are well worth having. It says on my CD and the band's website that this was released in 1978.
LinusW
More tentative, reserved and creeping than most symphonic prog, Arachnoid melt down and break up the symphonic idiom into a more oppressive, suggestive and spacey world of their own.
Focusing on dynamics and obtuse atmosphere-driven instrumental passages, regardless if they are more rocking or ethereal, it has a fairly unique, vocal-sparse sound and a vigorous hybrid identity that is instantly recognizable. You will find some attention-grabbing outbursts of angular and buzzing guitar and full-on symphonic assault, but that's not really what it's about. It is rarely pretty, the sounds coming together in swirling, wavering and rumbling madness, but maintaining a rather strong melodic integrity. Often, the tossing and turning liveliness takes place in a cocoon of thick, bleak and sticky atmosphere that manages to be very intense and commanding while only hanging on to reality by a tread. It feels pleasingly confused and unstable in how it all comes together, without ever really disintegrating. That balance act might just be the best thing about the album, making it feel very much alive and pleasingly surprising in a twisted organic fashion. Occasionally there is a smidgen or two of dark lite-fusion and cold, snarling and wheezing avant tendencies that sets it apart from the symphonic mainstream and nudge the album further into wonderful asylum territory.
You will often find a bubbling concoction of keyboards and guitar that simmer like hot black oil beneath the compositions, often enough with a feeling of rapidly impending doom. Shape-shifting keyboards whirl and hover alongside a similarly busy but indefinable guitar. Lucent electric piano notes and chords come and go like bright spots here and there, enriching as well as undermining the whole harmonic and melodic structure of the pieces. A discordant, fuzzed-up guitar riff or some naked and idiosyncratic picking get working on making the experience a bit more physical and edgy and things then build upon that via involved, but very disciplined and somewhat low-key percussion. Fire-and-brimstone keyboard attacks come and go, at times bouncing a contrasting and rather beautiful melody against unforgiving guitar onslaught. Their main focus can just as easily be to stir up trouble in spacey insanity. At times the mist lifts, revealing some beautiful and sombre rollicking piano or even a bit of flute and more gentle and forgiving guitars and keys, but that's more of an exception than a rule, being just shorter interludes in the menacing whole. They rarely let go of the reins completely, focusing on generating a disciplined chaos with a keen sense of dynamics, letting the compositions develop in a cleverly and nicely dysfunctional way.
A thoroughly good album, but a few lows and the scarcity of proper highs in the generally high-class and genuinely exquisite atmosphere keeps it from achieving greatness. Should be a very welcome addition in any collection that prefers symphonic prog as something dirtied up, twisted and dark.
//LinusW
apps79
Arachnoid came from the suburbs of Paris, a band which only earned some cult status over the years, struggling to find stability due to series of line-up changes, financial limitations and a slow development.They started in 1967 as the duo of Patrick Woindrich (bass, guitar, vocals) and Michel Pilot (guitar), evolving through the years to a Prog Rock band and adding members to the line-up.One proof of their slow development was the fact they hit the stage only in 1975, at a time when Pilot had quit due to lack of time.Woindrich then gathered a new line-up with Francois Faugieres (already a member since 1972) and Pierre Kuti on keyboards, Nicolas Popowski on guitar/vocals, Marc Meryl on vocals and Bernard Minig on drums, the band recorded an album in late-70's, released only on the newly established Divox label in 1979, an organization searching for new groups for its roster.
Arachnoid played a mysterious, very French-sounding and pretty unique Progressive Rock, which had its roots in Classical Music, but borrowed elements from a wide spectrum of tastes, only to showcase that this group was experienced enough and had a pretty long career, before launching this record, as their debut not only contains the early spirit of French Prog Rock but was flavored by jazzy, psychedelic and even some light Zeuhl moves.I can only compare them to ACINTYA in terms of originality and a heavy keyboard-led sound, although the two bands are far from similar.Arachnoid created muti-themed lengthy tracks with irritating vocals, slow moving guitars, Classical orientations performed on synthesizer and organ but also some strong jazzy passages with soft electric guitar and electric piano, revisiting the dark vibes of KING CRIMSON pretty often, producing some theatrical branches with narrations and keyboard experiments and somewhat getting lost in a labyrinth of complex ideas and poetry.There are even some evident links to PULSAR and CATHARSIS throughout the listening, featuring haunting spacious themes and obscure psychedelic acoustics, the album is far from consistent, but the band managed to produced some serious intensity and sinister atmospheres through these diverse influences.Actually I find myself struggling to catch up with all these mood variations, going from romantic lyrics and acoustics to a progressive mysticism with full-blown intstrumental interactions in a doomy execution, based on long keyboard plays and irritating electric guitars.
Of course Divox was not the right choice for a heavy promotion, but apparently the band found only closed doors when dealing with other labels.After some further line-up shakes Arachnoid became Color in 1980, sweetening their sound to more simplistic Rock formats, recording also an alnum, which was never released.Marc Meryl passed away in 1987 and Francois Faugieres died a few years later, battling for some time with a disease after getting wounded in a trip to Brazil.
Extremely serious progressive music with a dark and muddy sound and links to the more atmospheric French Prog bands like Carpe Diem, Shylock and Acintya.Not an everyday listening, but trully imaginative, psychedelic and instrumentally captivating.Recommended.
If someone asked what my favourite album is in the symphonic Prog category, this is the album I'd name. It's also one of my favourite albums period. Great. This is one of the albums that really turned me on to French progressive music, and though many albums pall over time for me, this one still sounds fresh and interesting to me.
avestin
What a wonderfully dark and theatrical album! KC inspired along with some references to other French contemporary like Pulsar and Shylock. Le Chamadère itself is a great example of the theatrical nature of the rock-progressif of French bands.
© 2010-2020 - Arachnoïd
ARACHNOID official Website


text:
Popular Ad Available as Poster
There is nothing a child who stutters cannot do! This popular public service ad is now available as a poster. To order the poster, click here. To run this PSA in your publication, click here.
Actor James Earl Jones, a Broadway, television and movie star, is well-known for his voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars and his book Voices and Silences. Jones has spoken some of the most memorable lines in the history of American film, but the man known for his voice was once afflicted with a severe stutter.
Carly Simon
Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.
This Virginian congressman has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1981. The longtime supporter of the Stuttering Foundation drew national attention to childhood stuttering in 2006 when he submitted an article about Tiger Woods from the SFA newsletter to the Congressional Record. The congressman is featured in the Stuttering Foundation's Famous People Who Stutter brochure.