In the verdant countryside of Seine-et-Marne, within the exposed beams of an 18th-century farmhouse, a collection of unreleased treasures lay dormant for over two decades. Now, Trad Vibe Records presents Inedit, a remarkable testament to the creative freedom and spontaneous brilliance of Cortex, one of France's most influential jazz-funk collectives. This essential reissue illuminates a forgotten chapter in the group's history, revealing the raw genius that would later inspire hip-hop producers across two continents and cement Cortex's status as masters of the groove. The story begins in 1977, when Alain Mion, Cortex's visionary founder and leader, discovered love and inspiration in equal measure. Alongside his partner Mireille, Mion acquired a remote farmhouse in the hamlet of Noisement, transforming its majestic barn into an unconventional recording sanctuary. Here, beneath secular exposed beams that had witnessed centuries of rural life, producer Alain Gandolfi established his console, creating a studio environment where creativity could flourish without commercial constraint.
Free from contractual obligations and the pressures of the music industry, Cortex used this pastoral retreat to explore their most experimental impulses. Between advertising commissions, regular jazz programming for Radio France FM, and collaborative sessions with neighboring musicians including Siegfried Kessler, Rosalie Dubois, and Claude Giacomi, the group recorded approximately twenty tracks that would remain hidden from the world until long after their 1981 separation. These Noisement sessions represent Cortex at their most uninhibited, crafting intricate jazz-funk compositions that seamlessly blend sophisticated harmonic structures with irresistible rhythmic foundations.
The significance of these recordings extends far beyond their initial conception. When Mion decided to reform Cortex twenty-five years later, the rediscovery of these lost tapes proved revelatory. The track "I Heard a Sigh" became the centerpiece of this renaissance, first appearing on the limited edition Inedits 79 album before achieving legendary status through its sampling in Damso's "Amnésie." This exposure introduced Cortex's sophisticated funk to a new generation, subsequently inspiring American hip-hop luminaries including Raekwon and Masta Killa from Wu-Tang Clan, Blockhead, and Sopico to incorporate these timeless grooves into their own creative visions.
The enduring appeal of Cortex's music lies in their masterful synthesis of jazz sophistication and funk accessibility. The Noisement recordings showcase the group's ability to construct complex rhythmic frameworks that serve both the serious jazz listener and the groove-seeking dancer. Each composition demonstrates their unique understanding of how melody, rhythm, and space can combine to create music that feels both intellectually stimulating and physically irresistible. The rural isolation of their recording environment allowed for an organic development of ideas, resulting in compositions that breathe with natural dynamics and unhurried musical conversations.
This Trad Vibe Records reissue honors both the music's historical significance and its contemporary relevance. The cover artwork pays homage to Cortex's origins, utilizing the original 1973 concert poster created by graphic designer Jean-Jacques Grand—a visual reminder of the group's enduring aesthetic vision and their commitment to treating every aspect of their presentation as art. The packaging reflects the same attention to detail that characterized the original sessions, ensuring that both longtime admirers and new disciples can appreciate these recordings in their full context.
As Alain Mion reflects on this remarkable journey from rural obscurity to international recognition, Inedit stands as testimony to the power of patient creativity and the unexpected ways that artistic vision finds its audience. This is music that waited decades for its moment, proving that the most profound artistic statements often require time to reveal their full significance.
