***Utter the name BOBBY BOYD CONGRESS to any collector or serious fan of ‘70s rare groove and you’ll suddenly see their face strangely come to life, lit intensely with a mix of desire, frustration and resignation. Then, he or she will proceed to explain to you that this legendary record is a holy grail of European groove, of which the perilous and dangerous quest sends the most manic diggers insane. Indeed this little funk/soul gem, displeased with its meagre 300 copy pressing in 1971, possesses a great number of other attributes which have sent its collector value through the roof (up to 1500 euro): a hot and rough production recorded at Studio Davout; the talents of the excellent American musicians exiled in Paris, the participation of FRANK ABEL (vocals and organ) and LAFAYETTE HUDSON (composition and bass) who would continue together, without saxophonist Bobby Boyd, under the ICE name and later the LAFAYETTE AFRO ROCK BAND. These two legendary line-ups recorded and released several cult albums in France—break-heavy, and with extended trance-like impros and scorching grooves. Their sound’s energy and power is already flagrant on this one, a jarring mix of funk, soul and rock and explosive instrumentation based on rough guitars, harmonious brass, wild organ and tireless drums. The vocals are just as extraordinary and add the final caress to this outstanding record that has at last been granted the reissue it deserves.
CD $22.25
05/31/2011
***Within the series of great hit albums springing from the hot bed of sixties pop, “Original Pop Corn” stands out as an unsurpassable model in the genre. An explosive record, fruit of the overactive minds of the maddest of French musicians. However, the roots and true leadership of the project comes from two music lovers: SAM CHOUEKA and FRANZ AUFFRAY (DJ at the famous Club Psychadelic on the Riviera). Joined by his friend Sam, in 1969, Auffray launched “Original Pop Corn” with the aim of creating a new dance style to rival the twist and the jerk. Whether serious, or not, their initial venture soon evolved into a liberating and unbridled experiment at the service of a wild and primitive groove. Using the studio as an instrument in its own right, they gave birth to a mutant jam track rolling out in 7 different versions/variations, and so prefiguring the remixing technique ahead of its time. Stuffed with effects from a whole bunch of genres (delay, back-masking, electro) and doped with magical filters (the phaser on pre-techno tracks “Sweet Pop Corn Part 1 & 2”) “Original Pop Corn” takes the form of a brutal funk earthquake, hit with psychedelic currents that defy all forms of classification. Known and actively sought out by Beat diggers, Mod DJs and adventurous music fanatics alike, this gem remains one of the holy grails of rare European groove and pop culture. An uncontrollable musical UFO produced by the wild, for the wild, and finally wildly hallucinogenic.
LP $20.50
05/04/2010