Various - Cosmic Machine - The Sequel

  by Keith How

published: 3 / 7 / 2016

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Review

Subtitled ‘A Voyage across French Cosmic and Electronic Avantgarde (70s-80s)’, this is the companion to ‘Cosmic Machine’, which released in 2013 explored French psychedelic sounds from the 1970s. A sprawling 22 track compilation, it took me completely by surprise .I had no idea what to expect but found myself completely engaged by music from a genre I had previously not encountered before. Opening with Pascal Comelade’s ‘Mouvement’, an ambient slice of space ritual. What follows is a rather addictive journey through a universe that will have bypassed many of us. Yes, we are all familiar with Jean-Michel Jarre’s ‘Oxygene’ but compiler Olivier Carrie takes the listener deeper into electronic space. Francis Lai’s ‘Young Freedom’ is a lively electronic disco strut with an infectious beat and some lovely guitar while Rosedud’s ‘Main Theme from More’ is introduced by the sound of cosmic winds from some other quadrant of our universe before hitting the dance floor with a solid cosmic groove! ‘Rite’ by Nicolas Peyrac has a stillness to it with a minimal harpsichord, a Krautrock beat and a Morricone feel. It is ideal for a soundtrack for an European Art House film. The roots of modern house music are found in the pounding beat of ‘Les Soucoupes Volantes Vertes’ by Heldon, whihch is a pulsating spacey trip. My first listen to ‘Cosmic Machine’ stopped me in my tracks. “This is really good” was my first thought but sometimes first impressions can be misleading. The acid test was a couple of decent car journeys as a kind of road test. So, I was driving along and suddenly found myself smiling and happy. This is a machines album from a time when electronics were still considered as innovative. It features analogue synthesizer, funky guitars, drum machines, spacey strings, all of which appears on magnetic tape and is full of sophisticated, progressive ideas. Hints of Brian Eno, Kraftwerk and even Steve Reich all feature throughout this fascinating musical landscape. ‘Cosmic Machine’ is a long album, twenty-two tracks in all but keeps you engaged throughout. Refreshingly sophisticated and sonically exciting, the groove is funky and very cool. Track 16 ‘Asteroid’ is another tasteful, jazz-influenced strut full of electronic warbles with more than a nod to Steely Dan (or vice versa). Anarchic System’s ‘Popcorn’ is actually a cut I remember from a long time ago and the only track I am familiar with. Georges Rodi’s ‘Indian Love Melody’ is a downbeat piece with some Georgie Fame bluesy Hammond organ and is very cool and groovy. The odyssey ends with a wonderful electronic composition, ‘Moins Banal’, which is constructed by Pierre Schaeffer of Musique Concrete fame. It is a science fiction soundscape of rumbles, growls, scratches and electronic noise, and aperfect way to complete this collection. ‘Cosmic Machine’ is an eclectic album, completely instrumental and, as you might expect from the French, full of class, art and intelligence.

Track Listing:-

1 Mouvement Décomposé D’un Coup De Marteau
2 Moonshine
3 Young Freedom
4 Main Theme From More
5 Take A Chance
6 Rite
7 Les Soucoupes Volantes Vertes
8 Vadrouillard
9 Monkey Star
10 Fade In Hong Kong
11 Love Is all
12 Ruitor
13 Harp Odyssey
14 Grand Prix
15 Pepper Box
16 Asteroide
17 Cristal N°3
18 Thème D’Araxis
19 Pop Corn
20 Indian Love Melody
21 Signaux Codes Non Identifiés
22 Moins Banal

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