LES MALEDICTUS SOUND

Sounds like German electronic pioneer Harmonia meet a Japanese funk commune Inomata Takeshi & Sound L.T.D. It's surprising and beyond expression such an experimental creation has been released in 1968, just before 'rock spirit was gone'. Without any suspicion the spirit of experiments was sincerely alive upon this album created mainly by Paul BAILE and Jean-Pierre MASSIERA in collaboration with lots of session musicians. Their phantasmagoric funk soundscape, blended with jazz, electronic, psychedelic, or avantgarde, could be attached via a French multi- instrumentalist and composer Jean Guerin, I guess. And of course crazy amazing they introduced melodic pop and anti-pop into their madness. Every single track is 2 or 3 minute long but simultaneously has impressive construction of sound / noise / melody line / rhythmic background.

This innovative sound collective can be heard through the first track "Kriminal Theme", one of their masterpieces. Mystic psychedelia filled with electronic footprints and jazzy percussive drum procession is followed by loud funky saxophone explosions plus downtempo melodic hollowness. Infernal shouting via their deep throat sounds exaggerating rather than serious. "The Whistler" is kinda acceptable funk song with dramatic piano phrases and kinky synthesizer tones. Hotchpotch sound mixture drives you into another dimension. In "Inside My Brain" fuzzy heavy guitar growling dominates melody lines all around. Texture like "Love's Theme" seasoned with irony brass launch is definitely in "Concerto Genocide". Contrary to examples above all, "Heathcliff Y Cry Your Name" is a dramatic tragedy flooded with psychedelic organ sounds and weird mourning.

Basically their musical attitude sounds more of pop than purely avantgarde or psychedelic. But do not be deceived, not so simple really. Colourful atmospheric variation via the whole album can notify you of their sound diversity and eclectic intelligence of music. Again let me say, it's quite incredible this album was released in 1968 just before rock dies.