Géographies (Made To Measure, vol. 5)

Description

Inaugurated by Crammed Discs in 1984, the MADE TO MEASURE series has focused on presenting some of the most interesting instrumental music of the time. Thirty-five volumes were released during the first decade of the series, which features varied musical adventures, often addressing and blending chamber music, electronic music, what was called 'new music' (minimalism and neoclassicism), experimental pre-rock, and various forms of sound exploration. The series is named "Made To Measure" ("Fait sur mesure"), half-seriously, to give a semi-fictional guiding line to what - like all of Crammed's ventures, driven by the label's irrepressible curiosity - was destined to become an inevitably eclectic collection. The idea was therefore as follows: it would be music created, or that could have been created as soundtracks for other media (film, dance, theater, video, fashion shows). The legendary Composers' Series of Crammed was reactivated in 2021, with the release of new albums and remastered vinyl reissues of some classics, including 'Made To Measure Vol.1'. "THE MYTHICAL MADE TO MEASURE COLLECTION... OF AVANT-GARDE THAT STICKS" --- GONZAÏ ---." Original compositions, often close to surrealism and Dadaism... This is indeed contemporary art, in the noblest sense of the term " --- Xsilence.net ---.Hector Zazou is renowned for his multiple albums and innovative collaborations, including the records of Zazou Bikaye. 'Geographies', an orchestral suite released in 1985, contains some of his most exquisite compositions. It features a chamber music ensemble, voices (classical or not), inventive production, and both ironic and affectionate tributes to early 20th-century classical music. With evocative titles such as 'Cine Cittá' & 'Sidi Bel Abbès', an irresistible almost folk song ('Vera C'.) and many other things, this album is an intriguing and playful journey through time and space. The cover is illustrated by a painting by Gérard Garouste, considered at the time as one of the leaders of the neoclassical-post-modernist movement. The album was recorded in Paris between 1982 and 1984, with a group of musicians including no less than twenty-five instrumentalists and singers. Subtly orchestrated for string quartet, woodwinds, brass, guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, sound effects, and voices, the nine pieces are full of colorful atmospheres and truly enchanting moments. The album begins with 'Cine Città', a title that probably denotes the affection Zazou had for certain composers of Italian film music. 'Denise à Venise' recalls the rich hours of French melody (dear notably to Debussy, Ravel, Satie). 'Sidi Bel Abbès', for string quartet and classical singers, evokes Hector Zazou's childhood in Algeria. The album takes a turn with 'Vera C', its irresistible melody and lyrics in Spanish (one fleetingly thinks of a group like Savath & Savalas), before diving into mysterious territory with Pali Kao. Does the title refer to the battle that took place in China during the second opium war? Or to the Pali-Kao Factory, a Parisian artistic creation place frequented by many visual artists and musicians in the early 80s? Or, more simply, to Pali-Kao street, in Belleville, near which Zazou resided at the time? It happens that we recently found a letter revealing that the composer had considered titling this work 'The Opera of Pali Kao', and subtitling these four parts as follows: a) The young sailor, b) The sirens, c) The mists of Pali Kao, d) The day breaks. The next three pieces, 'Au bout du monde', 'Motel du sud' and 'Sous les bougainvilliers' are largely instrumental. They contain arrangements and atmospheres that are among the most poetic in Hector Zazou's work. The album closes with 'Des Cocotiers', a dreamy piece with almost childlike voices, vibraphone, strings, flutes, and bassoons, as well as field recordings.