Jean Claude Vannier
La Bête Noire (RP RSD 19)

Lost and presumed missing for decades the soundtrack taoes for this lesser-known 1983 French thriller capreus the revered composer and arrange of Serge Gainsbourg’s Histoire De Melody Nelson embarking on a darker exploration of free jazz, frenzied batucadas and cyclic carousel psychedelia. Counting key players of the French jazz scene within its ranks, La Bete Noires “Insolitudes” group comprises a crack team of Palm/Futura/Saravah/Actuel regulars such as saxophonist Philippe Mate (Acting Trio/Mate-Valancian/Tacet) alongside drummer Bernard Labat (Mad Ducks) and legendary Arpadys/Voyage rhythm masters Marc Chanterau and Pierre-Allen Dahan (Brutus Drums). All of whom, alongside Michel Zanlonghi (Ensemble De Percussion De Paris) make up this thunderous, four-headed rhythm machine bridging an authentic gap between the Jef Gilson groups and France’s signature “cosmic” revolution. Naturally these previously unreleased compositions are spearheaded by lead pianist and composer Jean-Claude Vannier and for devotees of his 1972 concept album L’Enfant Assassin Des Mouches there is much to admire and cross-reference herein. Limited edition of 1000 copies.