Mort aux Vaches is the name of a series of albums released by the Staalplaat record label in collaboration with the Dutch radio station, VPRO. The name translates literally from French as “Death to Cows,” with “cows” being French slang for German cops - it is equivalent to “Death to Pigs” in English. The slogan originates from the Franco-Prussian War.
Each album in the series is a live session by a particular artist, recorded in the VPRO studios. The releases keep to the principles of Staalplaat by being packaged in a peculiar and interesting way, including using sand paper and copper. Each release is limited to around 1000 copies.
Most artists who contribute to the series make electronic music, with a particular bias towards experimental and ambient electronica. Other genres are also represented, such as metal and noise music. Artists who have released an album as part of the series include:
AU – 2004
Aube – 1998
Beequeen – 1997
CoH – 2002
Colleen – Mort aux Vaches – 2006
Contrastate – 1996
David Shea – 1998
Don Joyce – 1994
Étant Donnés – 1997
Flying Saucer Attack/Main/White Winged Moth – 2003
FM3 – 2005
Goem – 1999
Goodiepal – 2004
Greg Davis – 2003
Illusion of Safety – 1996 & 1999
In Slaughter Natives/Deutsch Nepal – 1994
Jazzkammer – 2005
John Duncan – 1997
Jorge Reyes – 1996
Kapotte Muziek – 1997
Kevin Drumm/Dan Burke – 2003
Kreidler – 1999
Kozo Inada – 2004
L.Ø.S.D. – 1997
Lionel Marchetti/Jérôme Noetinger – 2000
Machinefabriek – 2008
Maeror Tri – 1997
Main – 2003
Mainpal Inv./Gamers in Exile/Gæoudjiparl – 2005
Mahmoud refat – 2008
Mark Templeton – 2011
Massimo – 2001
Merzbow – 1995
Mitchell Akiyama – 2005
Muslimgauze – Mort Aux Vaches – 1998
Oren Ambarchi – 2002
Origami vs. Manipura by:b9/Nocturnal Emissions – 2000
Pan Sonic/Charlemagne Palestine – 2000
Philip Samartzis – 2003
Piano Magic – 1998
Pimmon – 2003
Roger Rotor – 2001
Ryoji Ikeda – 1998
Scanner – 1996
Senssurround Orchestra – 2000
Signal – 2002
Stilluppsteypa – 1998
Tape – 2005
Tarentel – 2002
Tim Hecker – Mort aux Vaches – 2005
Tin Foil Star – 1999
Troum – 2003
TV Pow – 2000
Ultra Milkmaids – 1998
Yellow Swans – 2007
Zeitkratzer – 2003
Zoviet France – 1998
