Serge Gainsbourg
HISTOIRE DE MELODY NELSON (Philips, 1971)
Although acknowledged as Gainsbourg’s masterpiece, nothing here would work without Vannier’s romantic and sinister string arrangements, his eerie modal progressions, or his minimalist use of an English rock quartet. “Everything is reduced,” says Vannier. “The choruses only play one note, an E. Nothing is extraneous. I hate useless things.”
Jean-Claude Vannier
L’ENFANT ASSASSIN DES MOUCHES (Suzelle, 1972)
Vannier’s sonic autobiography, centred around a morbid child composing symphonies from household noises, this astonishing ballet mécanique finds the composer at his most free, mixing in sleazy funk minimalism with Middle Eastern drones, Morriconestyle strings, flute, accordion, clacking billiard balls, celestial choirs and a tolling church bell.
Jean-Claude Vannier
JEAN-CLAUDE VANNIER [AKA MIMI, MIMI, MIMI] (Warner Bros, 1975)
If Brigitte Fontaine Est… Folle marked the…
