L'Affrontement des Prétendants

The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4½ stars stating "it is as a quintet this band plays, as a musical unit that is seasoned and confident and in full possession of its strengths and musical empathies. So democratic and accomplished is this band that it sounds as if it has no leader, but only music to play. And that's as high a compliment as any reviewer can pay".[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

All compositions by Louis Sclavis except as indicated

1. "L' Affrontement des Prétendants" - 8:45
2. "Distances" (Vincent Courtois, Sclavis) - 3:19
3. "Contre Contre" - 6:40
4. "Hors les Murs" (Bruno Chevillon) - 2:50
5. "Possibles" - 5:25
6. "Hommage À Lounès Matoub" - 16:59
7. "Le Temps d'Après" - 8:06
8. "Maputo Introduction" - 2:32
9. "Maputo" 6:32
10. "La Mémoire des Mains" (Chevillon, François Merville, Sclavis) - 2:29

• Recorded at Studios La Buissonne in Pernes-Les-Fontaines, France in September 1999.

• Louis Sclavis — clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone
• Jean-Luc Cappozzo — trumpet
• Vincent Courtois — cello
• Bruno Chevillon — double bass
• François Merville — drums