gullbuy music review

Jean-Claude Vannier

title

L'Enfant Assassin des Mouches

label

Finders Keepers

format
CD

Jean-Claude Vannier CD coverIn 1971 Jean-Claude Vannier provided the arrangements for Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson LP, considered one of the (many) highlights of his generous catalog of works. This record came out soon afterward. He also arranged Brigitte Fontaine's Brigitte Fontaine Est ... Folle album.

The music is instrumental, with a quirky French sountrack feel combining elements of experimental music, free jazz, choral and natural sounds.

The very informative CD booklet quotes Vannier "I've always been interested by the wrong side of music, the wrong notes. I love beginners, recorders and school orchestras. It was great when musican made mistakes." Vannier's own music taste included Jazz, Baroque, Klezmer, Oriental music and rock.

Jean-Claude Vannier - the French David Axelrod - fronted the avant-garde band Isolitudes, who released L'Enfant Assassin des Mouches in 1972.

Parts of L'Enfant Assassin des Mouches sound like a less pop Roy Budd on Get Carter.

Garde Volent au Secours du Roi has choral vocals that approximate Ennio Morricone spaghetti western highlights.

---Carl, August 22, 2005