Jean-Claude Vannier is considered one of the greatest French pop and orchestral composers ever, having created a mountain of music in his time – much of it “library” music used as incidental music in film. He also released two albums with fellow legend Serge Gainsbourg (Histoire De Melody Nelson and L’Enfant Assassin Des Mouches).
Electro-Rapide is full of short, weird, funky tracks, many of which were never released until this 2011 compilation album from Finders Keepers Records saw the light of day. “Bombarde Lamentation” is such a track to open the album, immediately making this collection a treat for Vannier’s fans.
“L’Ours Paresseux” is a showcase for Vannier’s rhythm section (Pierre Alain Dahan on drums and Bernard Lubat on percussion). “La Girafe Au Ballon” was originally recorded for children’s TV shows but has a bass groove from Tony Rubio that you could drop into any sexy spy movie from the late 1960s. “Claquez Klaxons” is another previously unreleased track original made for death penalty protests in France.
Believe it or not, “Saturnin et Le Vaca Vaca” is a theme song to a children’s show about a real-life baby duck. The short and sweet “L’Automne À Barbès Rochechouart” is Vannier’s tribute to a Metro station in an African community in Paris. “Qu’est-ce Qui Fait Courir Les Crocodiles?” is Vannier’s attempt to write a theme for a comedic film. It works, and I’m surprised it hasn’t been reused as a sitcom theme by now.
“La Douleur De L’Orchestre” is another previously unreleased track. It’s a weird, somewhat melancholy tune using a full orchestra he kept around after recording other tracks. “Thème 504” was released as TV and film library music in 1968, but not used for such a thing until 1989’s Comédie d’été. “Le Ballet Des Accoucheuses” is a vocal track using a choir of pregnant women to snap, tap, chant, and breathe beats throughout it.
“Road to Cuba” was written, according to the album’s liner notes, “…in the taxy that drove me to the studio. I’ve never been to Cuba.” Indeed, there isn’t a hint of Cuban, Caribbean, or Latin music in it, but it’s still fun. “Je M’appele Géraldine” was another TV theme Vannier wrote that was later re-recorded multiple times, including one version with lyrics.
“L’Éléphant Équilibriste” is another children’s TV show theme that playfully lumbers around your speakers. The album ends with a reprise of “Bombarde Lamentation” recorded in 1973 and not released until 2011.
This is a fun collection and a neat addition to your library music archive if you’re into that sort of thing. If you’re not, this might spark your interest in that vast, still mostly unknown genre.
Keep your mind open.
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