3 Jazz Greats : French Film Soundtracks

Michel Legrand ‎: Seule dans Paris 1971

Miles Davis providing the soundtrack to Louis Malle's excellent first film of 1958.

Jacques Loussier - Tu Seras Terriblement Gentille

Profondo Rosso OST - Goblin

My Bloody Valentine - We Have All the Time in the World + John Barry Ready When You are J.B (Complete)

François de Roubaix - Piti-Piti-Pas

Leonie - Lilth

Cymande - The Message

Teardrop Explodes - Camera Camera

On the subject of Cameras, super track.

Aztec Camera - Walk out to Winter (Extended) & The Boy Wonders

Brrr winter's arrived....
 Here's the 12"extended version of Walk out to Winter from hands down awesome album High Land, High Rain. And why not chuck in 'The Boy Wonders' too. Unbelievably Roddy Frame was only 19 when this record was released.

Johnny Marr - "A couple of days before I wrote 'This Charming Man' I'd heard 'Walk Out To Winter' (by Aztec Camera) on Radio 1, and I felt a little jealous. My competitive urges kicked in. I felt that we needed something up-beat and in a major key for Rough Trade to get behind. That's why I wrote it in the key of G, which to this day I rarely do. I knew that 'This Charming Man' would be our next single."

Craig Gannon, guitarist with Aztec Camera (not on High Land Hard Rain) was known briefly as the 5th Smith and toured with them in 1986. He successfully sued Morrissey and Marr over songwriting credit to "Ask".

"Me and Johnny were sat in the library playing acoustic guitars and they must have been miked up as we were probably putting down the acoustic tracks for 'Panic'. I just started playing the chord sequence which would later become 'Ask' in exactly the way it appears on the record. Johnny then joined in playing the same... I then forgot about the idea and left it at that... Johnny must have played Morrissey this idea or given him the recording I already mentioned. I was completely surprised as we were now recording this for the next single. The only section of the chord structure that I didn't come up with for 'Ask' was the middle eight section with the chords E-minor, D and C. That was actually what Johnny came up with. All the way through the song there is an overdub with me and Johnny sat around a mike with acoustics, playing a riff that he came up with towards the end of the recording of the song. That is a great riff and a real hook but it was still just an overdub and I felt the song was nearly complete without it. Up until the release of 'Ask' I still thought I'd be given a writing credit. When I found that I wasn't given a writing credit, it didn't really bother me, but I thought it was pretty bad that no one even acknowledged that it was my idea in the first place."

Baroque Jazz Trio - Zoma & Terre Brulée

French trio with their single LP release on Saravah records (iconic French label who promoted other experimental acts such as Fontaine and Catharsis). Good record if you're looking for some free jazz to background your activities and if you're a huge fan of the harpsichord. In all honesty,  it boils down to if you like this sort of thing.

Barry Gray - White As Snow

Marionettes don't get cooler than those battling the Mysterons in 2068. Barry's indestructible mixture of brass, beat and a strong dose of 60s space age pop served Gerry Anderson's creations.  The exceptionally well-made video is making me post more than anything though. They can't do explosions on this scale any more.

Gerard Manset - La Mort d'Orion

Non-French speakers shouldn't be put off by the first bars of this song.  Listen further and be enticed into the special world of singer-songwriter Gerard Manset. I would say he's greatly underrated amongst your Gainsbourgs and Ferrers. This is off his second LP.

Tomorrow’s Achievements: Parry Music Library 1976​-​86

Just a heads up for this recently released comp of Canadian Library Music. I am love with this record. Listen for yourself and beg for more in the future. Order the repress from Public Information or Norman before it's too late to get your mitts on it.

Three Degrees - Collage

Serge Gainsbourg - Requiem Pour Un Con

Serge Gainsbourg appearance in the film Le Pacha with one of his greatest songs in my opinion.

Nino Nardini & Roger Roger - Bagheera

FROM THE LP JUNGLE OBSESSION

1971 exotica release from two French composers and early Moog adopters Nino Nardini (1912-1994) & Roger Roger (1911-1995).  This song's luscious arrangements make it stand out from many of a similar genre.

Kate - Strange Girl

The post psychedelic sound of Kate released "Strange Girl" as their debut single in 1968. Whilst never a hit, the song was Tony Blackburn's record of the week. It sounds fantastically dreamy, so I don't see how this one managed to be forgotten.

Karl Heinz Schafer - J'Ai Peur Du Noir, J'Ai Peur Du Loup

Karl Heinz Schafer (responsible for the soundtrack Les Gants Blancs DuDiable) provides again for this obscure and very strange 1974 horror/comedy film. It features Peter Cushing, which is pretty funny, who plays the experienced vampire actor who can't seem to be dissuaded from wanting to act in romantic films. The vocals are courtesy of the cast ladies but you should be warned that the lyrics are incredibly cheesy.

Douglas Wood- Moon Nightclub

Sophie - Je Ne Fais Pas D'Histoires & The Wedding Present - It's not Unusual

Blonde Redhead - Futurism Vs. Passéism, Part 2

American group Blond Redhead laying down some French words. Guy Picciotto from Fugazi lends his vocals.

Tiny Yong - Eight Days A Week & French Scousers

"Huit Jours Par Semaine" Oooh. Tiny Yong was born in Cambodia but exiled to France while a teenager. She appeared in numerous TV shows in the 60s and briefly in film, her first role being in the thriller The Game of Truth (1961). After the 60s her recording career was over and she has since disappeared form the public eye. As you can imagine there is a whole host of French Beatles covers. This is one of my favourites out of curiosity, but also Les Sinners do an affectionate creation of loveable-moptops in a version of Penny Lane. I'd love to think this was shot in Liverpool but its most likely to be in Quebec where the group were formed. The best part for me has to be from 1:40 where the lead singer pulls off a head bobbing McCartney "ooooh" better than the original.

Francois De Roubaix- Astralement Votre

This is just as incredible as the track below! French composer multi-instrumentalist Francois De Roubaix responsible for this. Composed for commercials, TV shorts and around 30 films. I think this one's a credit to a TV show. De Roubaix died in a 1975 diving accident and has been sampled by producers for Robbie Williams!

Francois de Roubaix - Loin

The Everly Brothers - Talking to the Flowers

I don't know, The Move's "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" and this Neglected B-Side both released in the year 1967. How did these people ever complete a simple task like buy a pint of milk?

France Gall - Laisse Tomber Les Filles & Les Succettes

Mega-sleeze Serge Gainsbourg could always get a hit out of France Gall when he wanted. From Eurovision victory with a song about being a doll of wax to "Les Succettes" a song 18 year old Gall didn't know was actually about blowjobs. Gall didn't take to it too kindly when she supposedly clocked on, refusing to sing any of the songs Gainsbourg wrote for her. Not that this mattered, the whole of France seemed to be laughing with Gainsbourg too. Mean? Yes, but for a naive teenager in 60s France it was on the cards. Heck, he could even sing about "Lemon Incest" to daughter Charlotte nearly 20 years later.

Datashock - Teaser 2012

German collective Datashock. Last years release, Pyramiden Von Gießen, was one of my favourite records of 2011 for its superbly original krautrock. Now this little video teaser - set to some crackpot workout moves- is what can be expected on the next album that should be released sometime, well, soon shall we say. No release date is yet announced but they've been jamming and touring new material since the start of the year. I really think this band is onto great things and if you're gonna keep your eye on a newish band it should definitely be this one.

Gene Page- All Our Dreams Are Coming True

From the LP "Hot City" (1974)

I do love this. I first heard it off one of Saint Etienne's compilations and remember stumbling across a cheap copy of "Hot City" not long after. Gene Page also wrote the score for cult film Blacula.

Michel Polnareff - Le Roi des Fourmis (1968) & La Poupée Qui Fait Non (1966) & Lipstick (1976)

Years before Polnareff began playing around with his personal image he was more of a folkie. After a brief time in national service (he fainted on parade and was subsequently thrown in prison) he signed to AZ records in 1966. Two songs below are from this period and "Lipstick" is a groove highlight more characteristic of his 70s career.

           

                                             

             

             

Jacques Dutronc- Proverbes

John Barry - The Persuaders and Ennio Morricone - Chi L'Ha Vista Morire?

La Fiancee Du Pirate - C'est Quand Meme Pas A Cause & Mathematiques Modernes -Disco Rough

French Pop and New Wave for your salivating ears.

Mixtape - Percuphonic 003

Tracklist:

1. Doyen & Lasry - 'La mort des amants' de Baudelaire
2. Lard Free - Livarot Respiration
3. Michel Moulinie - Les Cordes de la Mer
4. Alessandro Brugnolini - Anna
5. Chrome - Static Gravity
6. Roedelius - Toujours
7. Doyen & Lasry - 'Bons conseils aux amants' de Hugo
8. Philippe Nicaude - Léger, Léger
9. Lois Lane - Winds of Heaven
10. Charlotte Walters - Angel of Sin
11. Doyen & Lasry - 'Roman' de Rimbaud
12. Gnac - Our Distance

Percuphonic 003 is here

                                

                       

Glen Campbell- Guess I'm Dumb

This Brain Wilson penned track (co-written with Russ Titelman) never made it to a Beach Boys release. It was left in the hands of Glen Campbell instead who temporarily stepped in for Brain Wilson during 64-65. I've played this endlessly in the past.

Mixtape - Percuphonic 002

Percuphonic 002

Percuphonic round 2 begins.....

Tracklist

1. Sounds Sensational - Love in the Open Air

2. William Sheller - Introit

3. Anita Bryant - My Mind's Playing Tricks On Me Again.

4. Bernard Fevre - Impressionism

5. Jean Yves Labat -  Matrix 16

6. Michel Polnareff - La Mouche

7. Christian Boule- Orange Climax

8. Isabelle Adjani - D'un Taxiphone

9. Leonie- En Alabama

10. Basil Kirchin- Primitive London 1

11. The Vogues - Just What I've Been Looking For

12. M.Ashraf (featuring Nahid Akhtar) - Good News For You

13. Serge Gainsbourg - La Horse

14. Francoise Hardy - Bati Mon Nid

15. Xeno and Oaklander- Sentinelle

Sweeping orchestration and lounge style oohs and ahhs in a version of Paul McCartney's "Love in the Open Air", which was originally featured in the score for the film The Family Way. 

Darker orchestration and a choir follows in "Introit" which was sampled on the space hip-hop opera concept album Deltron 3030. 

Anita Bryant, popular in the 60s but later campaigned against gay rights- which irrevocably damaged her reputation - received a pie in the face from a protester (that's the above image) sings "My Minds Playing Tricks On Me Again".  Apparently she was one of the first persons to be publicly "pied" on television.  This song is a real favourite though.

Jumpy electronics next courtesy of Bernard Fevre- yes it sounds like a Ghostbox release! For the record released in 1975. 

The longest track on the tape is by Christian Boule, he played guitar live and in the studio for Steve Hillage and was part of various groups in the underground music scene in Paris. This track is right up there ousting Hillage in his own space-trip guitar work!  On the same album titled Photomusik the track "22 Broad Street" refers to a brief time he lived in Brighton, England."Orange Climax" begins with a loose melody of Hendrix's "Burning of the Midnight Lamp".

I like the repeated beat of the Isabelle Adjani track. This song is from the album Pull Marine (1983) written and produced by Serge Gainsbourg.

 "En Alabama" is the arrangment of Jean-Claude Vannier and the British Basil Kirchin used his collection of ambient sounds to compose "Primitive London 1" which appears on the LP World Within Worlds.

"Just What I've been Looking For" and "Good News for You" are from the compilations Come to the Sunshine :Soft Pop Nuggets from the WEA vaults and The Sound of Wonder respectively. 

We end with synth duo Xeno and Oaklander with the title track of their second LP released in 2009.

Percuphonic 002 Listen

Mixtape : The Percuphonic Tapes 001

Percuphonic 001

Mixtape of mostly French, couple of Italian and one representation from England.

Tracklist:

1.France Gall - Poupee de Cire Poupee
2.Roland Bocquet - Amour 5- 5
3.Jacques Dutronc- Je Suis Content
4.Piero Umiliani - Caretera Panamerica
5.Serge Gainsbourg - Panpan Cucul
6.Lee Gagnon - Les Passants du Soir
7.Trust - Joue Joue
8.Karl Heinz Schaefer - La Victime
9.Brigitte Bardot - Contact
10. Ennio Morricone - Ricreazione Divertita
11. Elli & Jacno - Rectangle
12.Jane B - Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg
13.Jean Le Fennec - Mes Enfants D'Autre Part
14.Jean-Michel Jarre - Equinoxe part 5
15. Broadcast- Ominous Cloud

"Poupee de Cire Poupee de son" (Doll of Wax, Doll of Sawdust) penned by Serge Gainsbourg and winning song of the 1965 Eurovision song contest performed by France Gall.

" Panpan Cucul" is from the LP Vu de l'exterieur (1973) released after the landmark Histoire De Melody Nelson (1971). Gainsbourg suffered a heart-attack at the age of 45 in this year but recovered to start recording.

"La Victime" appears in the 1973 French thriller "Les Gants Blancs du Diable" (The White Gloves of the Devil).

"Contact" is another song with traces of Serge Gainsbourg who wrote this pulsing arrangement. Wooden Shjips did a fine psych-rock cover of this.

"Ricreazione Divertita" is from the score to the film Coure di Mamma (1969). This is a very special Morricone track and one of his best.

I've always loved the song "Jane B" and the vocals of Birkin. It's based around Chopin's Prelude in E Minor, Op 28. No 4.

The Percuphonic Tapes 001-Download

Maurice Jarre- Lawrence of Arabia OST (1963)

A majestic soundtrack masterpiece is what we have here.  It just has to be the grandest score of them all. When the brass reaches its crescendo and the force of the percussion has left you scrambling out of a sloping sand pit with only a mesmerised camel at hand - you wish you'd knew before hand that a desert hike wasn't a good idea in the first place - a sitting duck for the next plucky snake-charmer. This is by Maurice Jarre, father of Jean-Michel Jarre.

Lawrence of Arabia

1.Lawrence of Arabia- overture

2.Lawrence of Arabia-main title

3.Miracle

4.Nefud Mirage 2

5.Rescue of Gasim

6.Bringing Gasim into Camp

7.Arrival at Auda's Camp

8.The Voice of Guns

9.Continuation of a Miricle

10.Sun's Anvil

11.Lawrence and Body Guard

12. That is the Desert

13.End Title

Dynastie Crisis - Faust 72

Jacky Chalard was the bassist in this French pop group that formed in 1968. The group also consisted of Jacques Mercier, former member of bands Les Jelly Roll and Les Turnips and who was supposedly credited for several other hard-to-find projects around the same period . On this release, "Faust 72" is one of the best French songs you'll hear. It's not all great though, songs such as "Vivre Libre" sound typical Eurovision fare, while pop prog is turned up several levels too high for me on "Samourai"."Le Fantome" is a carnivalesque romp interspersed with sardonic laughter and is a particular favourite. Other highlights include the tight and laid-back grooves respectively of "Le Monde eclate " and "Quartre Heures De L'apres-midi", before the later track launches into a maniacal thrashing of all instruments. Enjoy.

Tracklist:

1.Faust 72
2.Vivre Libre
3.Chante Fais Ce Qu'il Te Plait
4.Rock N' Roll Dans Le Rue
5.Samourai
6.Ere Lumiere
7.Chicago
8.Merci Monsieur Chapman
9.Le Fantome
10. J'ai Brise La Chaine
11. Luciana
12. Le Monde Eclate
13. Reveille- Toi
14.Jesahel
15.La Fleur Du Mal
16.Quartre Heures de l'apres-midi
17.Johnny Be Goode
18. Je Suis L'homme
19. Schizomania

Jacky Chalard- L'Agonie/Les Scandales

From the LP "Je Suis Vivant, Mais J'ai Peur De Gilbert Deflez" (1974)

A real rarity reissued by Finders Keepers in 2010. I bought this one straight away, it's fantastic and a real crazy concept album too. The story ends in a space revolution in the year 1999! Boomkat describes it as "psychedelic radio play" and as a "transportive experience" - that's the best way to sum it up.

Richard Pinhas - Iceland (1980)

From the LP "Iceland" (1980)
FRANCE

Very hypnotic and kraut-influenced LP from the founding member of experimental group Heldon.  The cover looks a bit La Dusseldorf if that's anything to go by. Two tracks that stand out for me are the heavy synthesiser drones of  "Iceland part 2" and the kaleidoscopic closer "Greenland". "Short Transition" sounds identical to a Tarwater track I heard once I'm sure.

Richard Pinhas - Iceland 

Belbury Poly - The Geography/Insect Prospectus/Green Grass Grows

From the LPs  "The Belbury Tales" (2012) and "The Willows" (2004)
UK

Studies of the occult, Alfred Watkin's Ley-lines and British pyschogeography. To me these are all synonymous to the aesthetic and idea of the Ghost Box label. Akin to British authors and film-makers such as Iain Sinclair, Patrick Keillier and Stewart Home who have explored British geographies in the last few decades, the "hauntology" musical movement has likewise become a staple topic for cultural and historical investigations in recent years. Belbury Poly particularly envisage an exploration of the environment and landscape on this years release "The Belbury Tales". Inspired by weird fiction, folk and 60s/70s library and public information music like other Ghost Box acts The Advisory Circle and The Focus Group, albeit with distinct differences between them ; the alias of Belbury Poly (Jim Jupp) presents a future grown from the roots of hidden and forgotten histories of our past that make up our present internal landscapes. The psychosis of space - a collision between memory, time and the natural -  will form our character and relationship to it. That actually if you look around, Britain has a lot of strange things going on both under the surface and on it's surface. That's essentially what you're hearing on this record.

It is from using this constitution of recording a "lost Britain"; by exploring hidden streets, cemeteries, parks and other conventional landscapes; that we can appraise the geographies which we inhabit and the effects these can have on individual people and the identity of place. This has been greatly documented by the aforementioned writers and film-makers on their work in London and Southern England (London Orbital (2001), London (1994) Robinson in Space (1997), Robinson in Ruins (2010)). All of which can be consequently attributed to the influence of writings by JG Ballard, Daniel Defoe and loosely from origins that started within the Situationist movement . Jupp can similarly be seen to have been driven by these concerns in the making of his records. The music is eerie but also melodic, creating a journey that in the end always comes round to ones own doorstep and observations.  The use of vintage analogue synthesisers also play a key part in his philosophy which help create the sinister soundscapes reminiscent of British public information films . Importantly, this should be seen not so much as to be caught up in the nostalgia for a distant and romantic past but rather it's greater temporal significance. As the quote printed on the inner sleeve of the record states "It's seems to me the past is always happening now. In the present we are always memory". These words by the late Trish Keenan of Broadcast.

So here's three great tracks. "The Geography" and "Green Grass Grows" from " The Belbury Tales" which is probably my favourite record I've heard this year. The other "Insect Prospectus" is from the "The Willows", sinister yet jolly. I've also embedded  Patrick Keiller's "Robinson in Space" and one of Iain Sinclair's many talks about Hackney below.

                         

Catherine Riberio + Alpes - Roc Alpin/Paix

From the LP "Paix" (1972)

FRANCE

Jean Michel-Jarre - Calypso pt 2/En Attendant Cousteau

On the LP " En Attendant Cousteau" (1990)

FRANCE

I had this record playing while I ate my breakfast and it's a completely absorbing listen. I'm always amazed by the 47 minute long ambient title track which ends the LP. It's really minimal but greatly atmospheric, delicate notes on the piano and other tiny shimmering sounds evoke the ocean waters and the end creation can leave you feeling as surreal as the Dali ear on the cover. I would stress a need to spin a vinyl on this one to fully appreciate the layers and depths of sound that Jarre has produced although I'll stick it below so you can check it out. I've also included "Calypso pt 2", which has some great sounding synthetic textures (Calypso was the research vessel for oceanographer Jacques- Yves Cousteau of whom the LP is a homage to).

Nino Ferrer- Les Cornichons

From the LP Enregistrement Public (1966)

"Cornichons" is French for "Pickles". So they've packed the car with jam and biscuits for a picnic trip (not forgetting the radio!) on a Saturday, but they haven't got an umbrella for when it rains. Therefore, cue the return back home, to unpack what they've taken and then finally eat the pickles...Anyway that's Bernard Estardy being the extraordinaire on the organ and in all it makes for a speedy 3 minute French lesson. The song is based on James Booker's "Big Nick". I mentioned Nino Ferrer's serious soulful side in the previous post but the comical Ferrer was the most remembered and successful, much to his annoyance.

Nino Ferrer - Ma Vie Pour Rien/Je vous dis Bonne chance

From the LP Telefon (1967)
FRANCE

I think these are great. Ferrer took to his love of soul to influence his writing and vocal style during the 60s and created some excellent material. His affection for artists such as Otis Redding and Sam Cooke even led Ferrer to entitle a track "Je veux etre noir" (I want to be Black) on an earlier LP and he also did a cover of James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".

Janko Nilovic - diamant dans l'espace

From the LP "Un Couple Dans La Ville"
FRANCE 1976

Library music release for the Montparnasse 2000 label. Here's the opener with a slow building melody, think John Barry and the wordless vocals of Edda dell'Orso in Morricone scores. Not a bad track, if not exactly ground-breaking,  it interests me enough. However, I can't say anything else in favour of this LP which has some very uninteresting scat harmonies to boot. Nice bit of artwork though, which was probably courtesy of his wife who designed the cover for "Funky Tramway".

Janko Nilovic is a Montenegrin-French multi-instrumentalist and composer.

Sauveur Mallia - Automatic Meteor/Video Synthebass

"Automatic Meteor" is from the LP "Automation" (1980) "Video Synthebass" appears on "Automation Volume 2 (1983)
FRANCE

More library cosmique from the Telemusic label. Sauver Mallia this time, ex member of Arpadys and Voyage. 

Polnareff- Polnareff's (1971)

FRANCE (1971)

This is a French classic and it should be heard in it's entirety. It's one of those records that only a few collectors and obscuro DJs used to cherish and treat as their pride and joy. Then the internet came along and it was there for all your merry ears. I, for one, is grateful of course. Polnareff was hugely popular in France, probably because of those ridiculous white framed glasses he had to wear because of an eye problem.  He's a fascinating character and with a story likewise that you should read off wiki. He was left penniless by his manager, his wife committed suicide, he fled to the U.S to escape debts and in 1994 nearly lost is sight entirely. Most recently in 2010 his girlfriend gave birth to a boy but a DNA test revealed he was not the biological father. She has since disappeared with the baby. Merde!

Polanreff's Here

Brigitte Fontaine - Eternelle

FRANCE (1968)

ON THE LP "Brigitte Fontaine Est..."

Flat out tribal rhythm and chant driven track.

Roland Bocquet- Paradia (1977)

FROM THE LP "PARADIA"
FRANCE (1977)

Lovely stuff from Roland Bocquet, who continued as a sololist from the outfit Catharsis. This kind of reminds me of parts of Popol Vuh's LP- "In Den Garten Pharaos".

The Man-Machine

Paradia

Jean-Pierre Ferland- Le Chat du Café des Artistes/ Le Petit Roi

Canada/France (1970)

Two great tracks from the LP "Jaune", an album which only came to my attention after Charlotte Gainsbourg covered "Le Chat du Café des Artistes" on her record "IRM". 

 Wilko Johnson Look-alike