Spirit of France, by Spiritmuse Records

Spirit of France

by Spiritmuse Records

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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Deluxe 2xLP 180g black classic vinyl on gatefold card reverse matte laminate jacket, featuring original artwork by the incredible Nep Sidhu and Spiritmuse obi strip, with extensive liner notes in French and English by author Philippe Robert

Includes vinyl only bonus track by Ghédalia Tazartès, never released before on vinyl:
Il Regalo Della Befana - Part III (extract)

Includes unlimited streaming of Spirit of France via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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£33 GBP
Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£11 GBP

1.	Rémy Couvez - Rêve de Voyage 04:13 video	buy track
2.	L’Empire des Sons - Quand Nos Pères Étaient Des Poissons 02:19 video	buy track
3.	Catherine Derain - Les Crocodiles 03:13	buy track
4.	Sylvain Kassap - Le Dessous Des Berges 04:50	buy track
5.	Noco Music - Gaal 06:25	buy track
6.	Bujumbura Lyon - Workshop De Lyon - Bujumbura Lyon 05:59 video	buy track
7.	Jef Gilson - Love Always 15:16	buy track
8.	André Fertier & Clivage - Moving Waves 10:21	buy track
9.	Dynamo - Arabia 04:50	buy track
10.	Structures Sonores Lasry-Baschet - Sokoto 02:29	buy track
11.	Pân-Râ - Loreley 07:28	buy track
12.	Adjenar Sidhar Khan - Mahabaratha Kali 08:13	buy track

about

Spiritmuse Records presents
Spirit of France

Obscure, rare spiritual jazz, deep folk and psychedelia sounds from the French ‘70s - ‘80s underground

‘Spirit of France’ is an anthology celebrating the French artists whose total desire not to belong to a particular trend expanded their horizon by pushing the boundaries of creative music. Recording in caves during the full moon, or in the open air in Ibiza to celebrate the sun - with flutes, cromorne (French woodwind reed), darbouka and hurdy-gurdy, or with fascinating, unusual, artist-build instruments, with sounds heavily influenced from Indian, African, Arabic, Eastern and Malagasy cultures, this is what makes this compilation so unique.

Freedom of expression, experimental creativity and collaboration constitute the fuel for these hand picked artists – similar to Don Cherry’s influence on Colin Walcott and Kahil El’Zabar (in the field of jazz), and folk background artists like Robbie Basho and Sandy Bull; in Europe, the same approach was manifested in Italy with bassist Marcello Melis, the Sardinian singers from the Gruppo Rubanu, Aktuala and Futuro Antico. In France, Cossi Anatz, Nu Creative Methods and Sonorhc were also echoing the same approach.

‘Spirit of France’ – a long project in the making, is dedicated in unearthing more than just curiosities, instead focusing on never been reissued, obscure, artist-self-released music. Carefully curated by Spiritmuse Records’ Mark Gallagher and Thea Ioannou, and joined by young French digger Tom Val, ‘Spirit of France’ is an anthology of obscure spiritual jazz and its’ relationship with deep folk in the ‘70s - ‘80s French multi-cultural melting pot underground scene.

The album’s aim is evident from the outset, with Rémy Couvez’s aptly named ‘Rêve de Voyage’, illustrating the theme’s quest for imaginary folklore, continued with Workshop de Lyon, Jef Gilson – France’s spiritual jazz giant, Sylvain Kassap, Noco Music, Pân-Râ, L’Empire des Sons, Ghédalia Tazartès, and the mysterious Adjenar Sidar Khan. Some of these artists remain unacknowledged, yet they’re all extraordinary heroes of the French music avant-garde scene.

‘Spirit of France’ is a journey of imaginary folklore, blending spiritual jazz influences and deep folk, celebrating the unique sounds of the French avant-garde underground, at the crossroads of the tribal, the secular and the universal.

credits

released July 8, 2022

Curated by Mark Gallagher, Thea Ioannou & Tom Val
Design and Art Direction by Nep Sidhu
Mastered and Cut by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, London
Liner Notes by Philippe Robert

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about

Spiritmuse Records London, UK

Spiritmuse Records is an independent recording label unearthing gems from past and future, music for mind & spirit - from spiritual jazz to ancient field recordings, releasing carefully curated quality products for a deep listening, spiritual experience.
MUSIC FOR THE SPIRIT ... more

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