Indeed a very odd album and not everyone's glass of banana-shake, since we're on that topic. As the review by maroko says this artist used a lot off odd structures and sounds, most times it seems the artist was just experimenting – even with the release title since it’s not clear either. Some sounds are very pitched up and may sound annoying to the ears for some or otherwise sound out of place and way too random. And if the oddness wasn’t enough the catalog is even listed in 4 different formats across 2 labels! Joking Sphinx was certainly one of the most unique artists of the genre who disappeared by ’97 but in 2014 he released a 6-track file album and a single file all composed in 1996 and ‘97 – of course in his odd style, which personally I enjoy.As a final note I recommend his 3 vinyl releases from 1995, they still have the odd sound there and then but fit well with generic Goa from then and don't stick out for their quirkness at all.

My humble knowledge of french tells me that "A La Recherche De La Banane Pyramide" means something like 'on the search for the banana pyramid". A very cool name, and an awesome concept about an adventurer who's on a mission to find and conquer the pyramid, and we go along for the journey through multiple stops (tracks) he makes. Now, back to the main thing here - the music. I cannot really praise Joking Sphinx' composition talent as much as his creativity in coming up with awkward track titles or inventing original concepts. For the most part, his sound is very quirky and sinister (think of Quirk, but not as intricate), relying more on odd rhythmic patterns and high pitched psychedelic sounds than on melodic passages with explosive climaxes or multi layered segments many other goa trance artists followed at the time. However, the vast majority of sounds he uses are very annoying, and extremely hard on the ears. Take that siren in Le Grand Méchant Loup for example. He uses it for so long, and to such extent, that it becomes impossible to hear anything else except it. Very painful. Also, there are tracks where nothing much happens. Far from that they are minimal. For the most part, it's just randomly arranged effects and chopped sounds entering the track with no real purpose or meaning. You wait for something to happen anywhere from five to six minutes, and the only thing you get is a weak sixty second meloldy driven segment after minutes of uninteresting soundscapes. Speaking of melody work, it is hard for me believe that this is the same guy who released the "Courty plane EP" on Matsuri Productions. Most of his leads are really weak, and you will hardly notice them make their entrance. Take Refuge Cannibale, and listen to those last two minutes. I mean, sounds like the music you get when Mario rescues the princess from the evil dragon on the old Nintendo console. And when the mantra sample kicks in. God no. Les Montagnes De Mackarel has this annoying effect throughout which sounds like somebody was burping or having hiccups while the tune was in the final recording process. Dans La Forêt De Moukaoune Zolbi and Marmite Et Court-Bouillon are two shorter numbers (maybe interludes) with broken beats, and an entire array of really weird and distorted noises. The tracks aren't that bad, but are totally misplaced here, let alone the fact that they don't add absolutely nothing to the album. Kapouttage is a strange one, with an off-beat flow and kick, with some additional drums played and some string instrument, similar to a guitar. Or so I think. My favorite track here, or the one I dislike the least, is La Conquête De La Banane Pyramide, as I sometimes find it cool how it changes pace and mood, plus it has decent use of acid synths, a luxury barely seen or heard on this album. In addition to that, there is this seriously demented, piercing and loud sequence thrown in 2 or 3 times in the track, and I know it's taster's choice, but it's either going to kill you while on the dance floor or you will kill the DJ. One other reason why I particularly enjoy that track is because I know that after its running time is up, it is safe for me to push the stop button and put a well deserved end to my mysery. Buy only if you want your music to look like the monopoly board. Listening to this front to back gives only one possible location where that infamous banana could be: shoved into my anus. Pardon my french (oh the irony in that), but all good ideas and concepts set aside, the music is feeble, very much so.