Great Euro Pop Funk!

I'm back with some more incredibly rare funk tracks, most of them from European Library releases and soundtracks.

Once again, the spotlight is put on Paris-based composer/arranger Janko Nilovic, with the amazing "Sacha Pacha". A vibrant and theatrical masterpiece with multiple layer orchestration and one of the nastiest bass lines I've ever heard.

In the same cinematic vibe, the next track "Ophis le Serpentaire" by Vincent Gemignani is filled with abstract hip-hop beats and eerie choir arrangements - music that will make your mind travel.

Then comes Serge Gainsbourg, with arrangements by Michel Colombier, on the "Breakdown Suite" a dark and worrying funk piece, from the Sound Track for the film "Si j'étais un espion" directed by Bertrand Blier in 1967.

Piero Piccioni's "L'Italia Vista dal Cielo" is another funk track for a movie score, less dark than the previous one, with a loungy-easy listening feel. Then come a couple of French libray tracks, all with very distinguishable psych-pop string and percussion arrangements.

Another highlight in this selection is the track "Cha Tatch Ka" by Bernard Estardy. A musical experiment that falls in no category whatsoever. Hypnotizing drum and guitar loops, psychadelic synth licks and what seems to be a 1 year old baby beatboxing over all this madness. Believe it or not, this was recorded in 1967 - far ahead of its time.

Bruno Spoerri was a swiss composer in the 70s, who recorded music to promote various industrial products. "Les Electroniciens" for instance, is a PR disc for a company that sold fork lift trucks - an astonishing slab of funk concrete with fast looping bass and heavy drumming. You can even hear the fork lift truck in full operation!

"Tema de Soninha" by IRP-3, was a soundtrack for an obscure Brazilian movie "Soninha Toda Pura" (Soninha all pure). The movie was quite controversial because of it's lesbian theme and sexual content, and the music arranged by Erlon Chaves was released in very small quantities on a 7" single. Performed by the obscure IRP-3, this is a pure gem with a high speed organ solo and a swelling break beat throughout the song.

These two songs as well as "Ophis le Serpentaire" were recently compiled and reissued by the excellent Jazzman Records, a UK based label specialized in uncovering and re-releasing rare quality funk music.

The other tracks selected are all just as good, if not even better. Harlem Pop Trotters, Jacky Giordano "Pop in... Devil's Train", Ivan Jullien, Ben & the Platano Group "Paris Soul", Vincent Gemignani "Modern Pop Percussion" are some of the most desirable and sought after French funk records ever recorded.

The album "Hörselmat" by Svenska Löd Ab!, was recorded in Sweden in 1971. Only 200 copies were pressed which makes this another collector's most wanted, full of improvisational jazz riffs and skilled musicianship. The man at the guitar is no other than Janne Schaffer, who later becam the studio guitarist for the band Abba.

Tracklist is:

01. Janko Nilovic - Sacha Pacha, (Pop Impressions - 1970)
02. Vincent Gemignani - Ophis Le Serpentaire, (Modern Pop Percussion - 1970)
03. Serge Gainsbourg - Breakdown Suite, (Si j'étais un espion - 1967)
04. Piero Piccioni - L'Italia vista dal cielo, 1968
05. Raymond Guiot - Bass Dancing, (Basse Contre Basse - 1972)
06. Guy Boyer - Bongos & Sound, (Vibra Conception - 1966)
07. Hervé Roy - Pop Vibes, (French Pop - 1970)
08. Disco 12 - Pink Champagne, (The Disco Tramps - 1975)
09. Stefano Torossi - Sixth Dimension, 197?
10. Steve Gray - Winning Is Easy, 1973
11. Harlem Pop Trotters - Mocassin, (S/T - 1975)
12. Jacky Giordano - Don't be Cool, (Pop in... Devil's Train - 1974)
13. Bernard Estardy - Cha Tatch Ka, (La Formule du Baron - 1967)
14. Michel Colombier & Ivan Jullien - Talk, (Pour Danseurs Seulement - 1968)
15. Svenska Löd Ab! - Den Dan Vi Sket I Hugo, (Hörselmat - 1971)
16. Ben & the Platano Group - Arte Pino Pasta, (Paris Soul - 1971)
17. Bruno Spoerri - Les Electroniciens, 1973
18. Vincent Gemignani - Liberalia, (Pop Impressions - 1970)
19. IRP-3 - Tema de Soninha, (Soninha Toda Pura, 1971)
20. Vladimir Cosma - Ultra Pop-Op, (Ultra Pop.Op, 1970)

Get it here!