Gérard Manset - La Mort D'Orion

 

 

This record was rescued from a box of old vinyl in a charity shop in Woodingdean, where it languished amongst heaps of records by Des O'Connor and Slim Whitman.  Weird to find such a strange, symphonic psychedelic prog-rock album in amongst such incongruous company.

The music here is dense and otherworldly and Manset employs a broad palette incorporating gypsy violins, sitars, fuzz guitars and experimental recording techniques alongside all the traditional instruments of the orchestra. 

Tracklist:

01         Introduction         
02         Où L'Horizon Prend Fin        
03         Salomon L'Hermite         
04         Final        
05         Vivent Les Hommes        
06         Enchaînement         
07         Ils         
08         Paradis Terrestre        
09         Elégie Funèbre

Get it HERE.

Manitas de Plata - Guiterra Flamenco (1965)

Opinion is divided amongst aficionados of flamenco guitar as to the worth of Manitas' playing.  For some, he is the greatest flamenco player the word has ever seen, and others think him overrated, overly flamboyant and disrespectful of the flamenco form.  I am no expert on flamenco (or anything else for that matter), but for me, there is a passion and intensity in the music of Manitas de Plata (Little Hands of Silver) which transcends genre, there is a spontaneity and an exhuberance that is life affirming.  This is a joyful noise.



Tracklist:

01         Bulerias     
02         Granadinas         
03         Tarantas   
04         Alegrias Del Cante         
05         Sevillanas     
06         Soleares Gitanas         
07         Levantes         
08         Farruca         
09         Jota

Get it HERE.

Little Bob Story - Livin' in the Fast Lane (1977)

Well here we are...last post of 2012 and we have some heads down, punky rock 'n' roll to see the year out.  Little Bob Story were from Le Havre in France but somehow became involved in the London punk scene in '76 and '77.  Their frantic blend of rockin' R&B made them popular on the pub rock circuit and they gathered enough of a following to release some records on Chiswick, the UK's first indie label...

The singer is a dead ringer for that popular Irish comedian, Frank Carson:

That's it, Happy New Year everyone!

Tracklist:

01         Little Big Boss         
02         All Or Nothing    
03         I'M Gonna Dress In Black     
04         'Round The Corner         
05         Riot In Toulouse         
06         When The Night Comes         
07         Baby     
08        You Make Me Crazy    
09         Mister Tap         
10         Nothin' Else (Can Give It To Me)

Get it HERE.

Alain Goraguer - La Planete Sauvage

Lovely, bubbly French psyche soundtrack. You might like it:



Tracklist:

1 Déshominisation (II)
2 Déshominisation (I)
3 Générique
4 Le Bracelet
5 Ten Et Tiwa
6 Maquillage De Tiwa
7 Course De Ten
8 Ten Et Medor
9 Ten Et Tiwa Dorment
10 Ten Est Assomé
11 Abite
12 Conseil Des Draags
13 Les Hommes-La Grande Co-Existence
14 La Femme
15 Mira Et Ten
16 Mort De Draag
17 L'oiseau
18 La Cité Des Hommes Libres
19 Attaque Des Robots
20 La Longue Marche-Valse Des Statues
21 Les Fusées
22 Générique
23 Strip Tease
24 Méditation Des Enfants
25 La Vieille Meurt

Get it HERE.

Guy Beart - Futur*Fiction*Fantastique (1977)

This is a strange recent boot sale discovery - I was instantly attracted by the beautiful Moebius imagery adorning the gatefold sleeve. I had no clue as to what the music might sound like, but thought I'd give it a try for a pound. French chanson wouldn't normally be my cup of tea, but with its wibbly synth soundscapes and songs all about outer space, this one's a real curio.

I'd never heard of Guy Beart previously, but it turns out he was one France's most popular chanteur's for a number of years, so he's probably well known to some of the French speakers out there. Like many ignorant and poorly educated English folk, I do not speak any French and so am unable to understand anything that Guy is singing about, but it all sounds very interesting.

Tracklist:

01 Etoiles, Garde-A-Vous
02 Les Temps Etrangers
03 Les Enfants Sur La Lune
04 Alphabet
05 De La Lune, Qui Se Souvient
06 L'Avenir C'Etait Plus Beau Hier
07 Annees Lumiere
08 Les Collines D'Acier
09 Voyageur De Rayons
10 La Terrien
11 La Lune Est Verte

Get it HERE.