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)

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Psyché Funk French Movie SOUND TRACKS

Not to be missed, this new post filled up with 20 of the grooviest, pop-psych-funky tracks put out by French movie Score composers.

Keep you ears open for the opening track from Jean Pierre Mirouze - whom we know very little about except an exceptional gift for hammond organ and string arrangements, in the sexiest, most soulfull blacksploitation style! If you read French, a Technikart blogger wrote an excellent post on this track >>here

Others include a track from the pop masterpiece "L'Homme Orchestre" by François de Roubaix, and his much darker, eerie compositions for "Les Caïds" & "Dernier Domicile Connu"; a breakbeat pop killer from Vladimir Cosma; and some of the most saught after funk OST ever to be scored in France: Michel Legrand's "Un homme est mort" and Pierre Cavalli's "Un soir chez Norris".

A special place for Alain Goraguer and his sample haven "La Planete sauvage". The tagline for the movie when it was release fits the music perfectly: A Sublime Trip to a Fine New World.

Serge Gainsbourg, along with Jean Claude Vannier and Michel Colombier are not forgotten, with his long fogotten themes for "La Horse", "Cannabis" and "Le Pacha". Psych-funk at its greatest.
If you thought you could not make very funky stuff with a Harpsichord, a banjo and violins... then listen carfully to "La Horse".

I also added the Track "Voyages" from M. Polnareff's concept album "Polnareff's", which even though it never was a film soundtrack - just blended in so perfectly well with all the other tracks.

You won't be able to miss Michel Magne's tribute to James Brown, in the very funky "Superchic Génial" -- uber kitch original movie extract with the music can be seen: here.

Finally, two of my very favorites, Philippe Sarde's incredible, eastern chord & bass driven "Juke boxes chez Saidani". A bliss of rythm and groove way ahead of it's time. Then the last track of the 20 - the disco frenzied "Grand Theme Malko" by Michel Magne, with its hypnotic Fender Rhodes lead, that would give both Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea a heart attack.

Tracklist:
01. Jean-Pierre Mirouze - Sexopolis (Marriage Collectif, 1969)
02. Serge Gainsgourg & Michel Colombier - Psychasténie (Le Pacha 1968)
03. François De Roubaix - Repetition (L'Homme Orchestre, 1971)
04. Vladimir Cosma - Black Flowers (Ultra Pop - Musique pour l'image, 1970)
05. Francois de Roubaix - Dernier Domicile Connu (1971)
06. Michel Polnareff - Voyages (Polnareff's, 1971)
07. Pierre Cavalli - Un soir chez Norris (1971)
08. Pierre Cavalli - Chasse à l'homme (Un soir chez Norris 1971)
09. Serge Gainsbourg & J.C. Vannier - La Horse (1970)
10. Alain Goraguer - Le bracelet (La Planete Sauvage 1973)
11. Alain Goraguer - Ten et Tiwa (La Planete Sauvage 1973)
12. Michel Legrand - Un homme est mort (1972)
13. Philippe Sarde - Jukes boxes chez Saidani (Max & les Ferrailleurs, 1971)
14. Serge Gainsbourg & J.C. Vannier - Danger (Cannabis 1970)
15. Michel Legrand - Picasso Summer (Summer of 42, 1972)
16. Alain Goraguer - Sur Un Arbre Perché (1972)
17. Michel Magne & Jean Yanne - Superchic genial (Moi Y'en a Vouloir des Sous 1972)
18. Francois de Roubaix - Les Caïds (1972)
19. Jack Arel & Pierre Dutour - Tracking (Aux Frontières du Possible, 1971)
20. Michel Magne - Grand Theme Malko (S.A.S. à San Salvador, 1982)


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