Label: Creel Pone

Dominique Grimaudと共に同国フランス・アヴァン界隈の重要バンドCamizoleのメンバーでもあったBernard Filipettiが、その後Mathieu Habig、Xavier Rouxらと結成した前衛エレクトロニクス・ユニットArt & Technique。何度か再発が行われている1981年の名作1st [Clima-X]、1982年2nd [Diabolus In Mecanica]、そして2枚のEP(1981年[Putsch In Memoriam]、1983年[Alea Jacta Est])、80年代の全ての音源を網羅したCreel Pone編集版。殆ど意味不明な呟きと化したボーカル&ドラムマシン、それらを良い具合に抽象化するクールなエスノ的なリフまで、どこか掴み所の無いオブスキュアな感覚が満載の名盤であり、狂気とユニークの絶妙なバランスが凄い。





Overjoyed to (finally!) see this one in the "Vetoes" program (one of my own nominations for a change; the cabal had feelings about this one) covering the complete output of the French recording act Art + Technique across 4 releases (two LPs: "Clima-X"; AT-01, 1981 & the incredible "Diabolus In Mecanica"; AT-03, 1982 & two EPs: "Putsch In Memoriam"; AT-02, 1981 & "Alea Jacta Est"; AT-04, 1983-84) by Bernard Filipetti's revolving-cast ensemble, active for but a brief window in the early 80s.

Often fêted as "Minimal-Synth" classics, I've long found these records as a clear continuum from the exact sort of "One Man Against The World (With Synths)" energies found on such canonic C.P. fodder as Nik Pascal's Narco run ([CP 079.5-080-081 CD]), "Conrad & Sohn" ([CP 005 CD]; particularly the "Let's Run the Vocals through the Synth" energy, the similarities are uncanny!) & the like. There's only the faintest trace(s) of "Songs" (lyrics are largely mumbled and/or mono-toned in a mix of French & Invented tongues) which leaves the lingering Drum Machine drift & clearcut Electronic Malaise their due space to traverse the planes.