This is Spirit of France – obscure, rare spiritual jazz and deep folk sounds from the French ‘70s - ‘80s underground. A 2hr deep listening set for WWFM.
Spirit of France is celebrating the French artists whose unconventional desire not to belong to a particular trend pushed the boundaries of creative music. Recording in caves during the full moon, or with fascinating, peculiar, artist-build instruments, and with sounds influenced from Indian, African, Arabic, and Eastern cultures, but still sounding fresh and relatable today, this is what makes this album so unique.
‘Spirit of France’ is a journey of imaginary folklore into France’s underground melting pot music scene, ft. Jef Gilson, Workshop de Lyon and Ghédalia Tazartès and an ode to the extraordinary unacknowledged heroes of the French underground, such as L’Empire des Sons, Rémy Couvez, André Fertier, Pân-Râ and many more!
‘Spirit of France’ – a long project in the making, is dedicated in unearthing never been reissued, private press releases. Carefully curated by Spiritmuse Records’ Mark Gallagher and Thea Ioannou, and joined by young French digger Tom Val, ‘Spirit of France’ is a collector’s item, exploring the French avant-garde scene, by blending spiritual jazz influences and deep folk at the crossroads of the tribal, the secular and the universal.
Spiritmuse Records presents 'Spirit of France'
1. Structures Sonores Lasry-Baschet - Sokoto (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
2. Catherine Derain - Les Crocodiles (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
3. André Fertier & Clivage - Moving Waves (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
4. Free Dance Song - Free Rythms Dance (Unidisc)
5. Francois Tusques - Hon-Dat (Le Chant du Monde)
6. Nakara – Desert (Komos)
7. Barney Wilen - Bumba Ciagalo (Sonorama)
8. Sylvain Kassap - Le Dessous Des Berges (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
9. Ariel Kalma - Rue De La Gaité (Black Sweat)
10. L’Empire des Sons - Quand Nos Pères Étaient Des Poissons (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
11. Jef Gilson - Love Always (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
12. Atarpop 73 & Le Collectif le Temps des Cerises - Attention... L’Armee (Staubgold)
13. Brigitte Fontaine, Areski Avec The Art Ensemble Of Chicago - Lettre A Monsieur Le Chef De Gare De La Tour Carol (Saravah)
14. Rémy Couvez - Vent d’Est (Not-on-Label)
15. Workshop De Lyon - Bujumbura Lyon (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
16. Francis Bebey - Kapsiki (Ozileka)
17. Ariel Kalma - Bakafrika (Astral Muse)
18. Il Regalo Della Befana - Part III (extract) - Ghédalia Tazartès (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
19. Loreley - Pân-Râ (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
20. Ragilia – Areski & Brigitte Fontaine (BYG)
21. Ghédalia Tazartès - Il Regalo Della Befana - Part III (extract) (Celluloid)
22. Adjenar Sidhar Khan - Mahabaratha Kali (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
23. Rémy Couvez - Rêve de Voyage (Spirit of France, Spiritmuse Records)
24. Ariel Kalma - Fast Road to Nowhere (Astral Muse)