At the time the band had changed the spelling of their name to "Aqsak Maboul", and this is reflected on the album's record sleeve.

This album features three musicians from two other RIO bands, Michel Berckmans from Univers Zero, who had joined Aksak Maboul when they began performing live in 1978, and Fred Frith and Chris Cutler from Henry Cow, who were invited by Marc Hollander to participate in the recording.

[4] Un Peu de l'Ame des Bandits is more intense and experimental than Aksak Maboul's first album, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine (1977).

"Modern Lesson" begins as a "twisted blues number" with gibberish vocals over guitar, cello and saxophone, then switches to horn and string chamber music.

[5] "I Viaggi Formano la Gioventú" is an arrangement of a Turkish folk song featuring dumbeg and cello playing traditional scales.

The album was remastered from the original tapes, and includes a large booklet with abundant liner notes, rare documents, and recollections by all the participants.

Also included is a bonus album entitled Before and After Bandits, consisting of ten previously-unreleased live and demo recordings, and featuring seventeen of the band's subsequent members and guests.