Christian Clozier, Jacques Lejeune

Well ... Mr. P.C. C.P. has clearly taken a peek at my “Holy Grail” list - in it, nestled amongst such unattainable classics as Karel Appel’s “Musique Barbare”, Paul Boisselet’s “Le Robot”, and Il Gruppo Nuova Consonanza’s ill-fated Cinevox-label album is the LP in question; a split release featuring a pair of pieces made at the tail-end of the 1960s at the GRM by Jacques Lejeune and Christian Clozier, respectively. Released as part of EMI / Pathe Marconi’s mythical “Perspectives Musicales” series - parodied by Sonic Youth via their “SYR-Series” - this lovely Creel Pone reproduces by far the hardest-to-find title in a series known for being elusive to collectors of “Contemporary Music.”

Which isn’t to over-emphasize the scarcity of the object - this is one of the most “happening” sets of Musique Concrète in the entire INA-GRM canon. Lejeune’s killer “Petite Suite,” especially, rocks with its ruthless plundering of first the lone free-time hi-hat, then the entire drum-kit of a studio “Funk” drummer, interspersed with blasts of processed guitar & full-on Psych-rock. Coupled with the sparse electronics & plunderphonic choir of “D’Une Multitude en Fete” you certainly begin to get a sense of the sheer scope of Lejeune’s compositional vision. Christian Clozier’s “Dichotomie” uses familiar elements from the Concrète lexicon - mutated / extended instrumental techniques & percussion, heavy use of phasing and tape-speed effects, tons of close-mic’ed / distorted sounds interspersed with distant, reverb-laden atmospheres - it’s the dense tapestry that makes the sparse "Llettre a une Demoiselle” seem so barren in comparison.

Once again - and for the last time in a few months; or so i’m told - this lovely Creel Pone edition puts an outststanding suite of hitherto unheralded Early Electronic genius into the hands / ears of enthusiasts whom most likely would never have even heard of this music. If you’re feeling “Blanche Neige” this will be right up your alley.