Overview

At the dawn of the '70s, in a country still reeling from the aftershocks of World War 2, an underground movement of rock musicians resolved to tear it all up and start again. Welcome to France, 1968. Music fans in the English-speaking world are well-versed in the parallel Krautrock scene that sprung up across the border in Germany, but they are almost totally unaware of the French musical underground. There the radicalism of May '68 collided with the counterculture, post-psychedelic rock, and free-jazz to produce some of the most distinctive and vital music made anywhere in the '70s. Synths, Sax & Situationists tells the story of more famous bands like Magma, Etron Fou Leloublan, and Gong alongside almost-forgotten groups like Cheval Fou, Fille Qui Mousse, and Barricade.

Full Product Details

9780645492804

Table of Contents

Reviews

""It sometimes takes a foreigner to put together the best critical overview of your own country's history of interesting and innovative music, placing it in its underlying historical context, which is of particular importance when discussing post-1968 France. Australia's Ian Thompson has undertaken extensive archival research and conducted many original interviews, adding his own concise critical observations... I can't think of a better starting point for this exploration than this great book!"" Aymeric Leroy, L'école de Canterbury, Rock Progressif ""The value of the book... is to methodically trace the trajectories of the bands that both define and comprise the French musical underground of the time. Thompson has thoughtfully guided readers and listeners toward several streams within the terrain: the political, lysergic, jazz, avant and electronic undergrounds. No matter what your taste you're bound to find something fascinating in one or more of those channels... A thorough discography and bibliography grants the book weight, while Thompson's writing functions as a breezy guide to this formative realm of noise, freedom and action."" Philip Brophy, The Wire""The arrival of lan Thompson's landmark study of the roots, defining characteristics and trajectory of the French underground shines a revealing light on what was previously a hidden history. Combining a wealth of historic detail with archive interviews, accounts and reflections from surviving artists and band members... Synths, Sax & Situationists opens the door to a landscape populated by a host of misfit outfits including Lard Free, Red Noise, Barricade, Komintern, Fille Qui Mousse, Ame Son, Cheval Fou, Nyl, Etron Fou Leloublan, Heldon, Gong and Magma. A deep dive, and highly recommended."" Grahame Bent, Shindig! ""Thompson's research and immersion in the scene really shine... [creating] an indispensable encyclopedia of obscure artists... a trusted guide you want to take on a serious record excursion, making the book even more essential. Furthermore, the detail, scholarship and stories on offer here is simply outstanding...The entries return you to a time when one was genuinely excited by fresh discoveries, when you couldn't wait to try a new record. For this alone, Thompson has done a remarkable job."" Ben Finlay, Moof Magazine

Author Information

Ian Thompson is a writer and musician based in Australia.

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