Déficit des Années Antérieures

Tony Coulter here, after a somewhat lengthy absence. Today I will be focusing on the ineffable and uncategorizable French band/art collective known as Déficit des années antérieures (or D.D.A.A.). D.D.A.A. have been huge favorites of mine for more than 25 years, and during that span of time I've acquired a certain amount of artwork by the band, as well as posters and photos, and I thought it would be a good idea to share some of that here on BotB. With D.D.A.A.'s permission, I've also given you tracks from each of their 7" releases (singles and EPs), barring one that has been reissued on CD. You'll find those tracks after the jump, along with photos of some of the wonderful inserts that accompanied each release. All but the last 7" was released by D.D.A.A. themselves on their own Illusion Production label; one is a collaboration with visual artist/vocalist Joel Hubaut and guitarist Manou.

I'm not going to try to convince you how unique and original D.D.A.A. are through describing them or giving a run-down of their history; instead, I will simply let the music and images speak for themselves.

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D.D.A.A.: Jean-Luc André (l), Sylvie Martineau Fée, Jean-Philippe Fée (r)

(March 1979)

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D.D.A.A.: Miss Vandann / Jets Over Kashima Airport (Illusion Production IP 002, 1979) 7" single

D.D.A.A.: Miss Vandann

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Miss Vandann insert:

 

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Miss Vandann insert:

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1979 concert poster:

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D.D.A.A.: Front de l'Est (Illusion Production 003, 1980) double 7" EP

D.D.A.A.: Chant du Front de l'Est

D.D.A.A.: Bruxelles 1956/ Tous écoutaient King Harris

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Front de l'Est promo photo:

(March 1980)

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Front de l'Est promo photo:

 (March 1980) 

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Joel Hubaut & Manou + D.D.A.A.: Epidemia Voice Bacterial (Illusion Production IP 004, 1980) 7" single

Joel Hubaut & Manou + D.D.A.A.: Epidemia Bacterial Voice

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Epidemia Voice Bacterial insert:

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Epidemia Voice Bacterial insert:

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Epidemia Voice Bacterial insert:

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Concert poster:

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D.D.A.A.: Aventures en Afrique (Illusion Production 005, 1980) 7" EP

D.D.A.A.: Motorrad in Africa

D.D.A.A.: Guawa (2)

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Aventures en Afrique insert:

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Aventures en Afrique inner sleeve:

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D.D.A.A.: 5ème Anniversaire (Illusion Production IP 018, 1984) 7" EP

 

D.D.A.A.: La pluie sur ton visage

D.D.A.A.: Now is't time now to go to bed

D.D.A.A.: Les 25 pièces sont vides

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5ème Anniversaire label:

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5ème Anniversaire back cover:

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D.D.A.A. / Hirsch 2: Le Corbusiers Buildings / Die zwei Arten der Fettsucht (Elektrip EL 05, 1990) 7" [split release]

D.D.A.A.: Le Corbusiers Buildings

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UPDATE: I'm pleased to be able to add a great 1984 video for "The Riddle's Standards," a song that opens the D.D.A.A. LP Les Ambulants (Illusion Production IP 020, 1984).

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Comments

[Brian Turner]

Oh man, the definitive TC DDAA post, been waiting for this...

[Continuo.wordpress.com]

Great post. Looking at all these wonderful artworks, it strikes me how D.D.A.A. are close to Bazooka, a group of French independent designers who did a lot of cover art in the 1980s.

[Valerie Blindee]

Thanks this is a very good post. Thank you soooo much. I asked my French friends if they know DDAA. I'm still waiting for their answers.

[Editor B]

Ohhhh yes thank you.

[Philippe B]

What a great slice of french oddity, i'm really amazed you've heard about them, woaw !!!
these weirdos met at the Art-School in Caen (Normandy), there was a good record-shop in town (dont remember the name so) with lots of early punkitude and experimental stuff to find, it's where i bought "Miss Vandann" back in 79.
I was there with a friend, looking for some Residents stuff when i saw this single et instantly been captured by its home-made cover and incredibly strange soundscapes, holy reminder of the time music was a-changing everyday...
i've never saw them live though. I recently sold this record to another friend of mine, for his own D.D.A.A collection.

Thx a million for this post :)
geetz from Normandy.