Fantastic Voyage: New Sounds For The European Canon 1977-1981

ボブ・スタンリーとジェイソン・ウッドがコンパイルしたヨーロッパ・エレクトロニックコンピレーションアルバムをACEからリリース!

ボブ・スタンリーとBFIのジェイソン・ウッドがコンパイルした"Fantastic Voyage"は、大成功を収めた"Cafe Exil"コレクションのコンパニオン・アルバムであり、デヴィッド・ボウイとイギー・ポップが70年代半ばから後半にかけて行ったヨーロッパ横断列車の旅のサウンドトラックをイメージしたものである。デヴィッド・ボウイとブライアン・イーノによる画期的なベルリン・レコーディングによる三部作の『Low』や『Heroes』のように、曲の中には、緊張感を煽る曲(グラウゾンの「Eisbar」)もあれば、これらのアルバムに共通する旅情(シンプル・マインズの「Theme for Great Cities」、坂本龍一の「Riot in Lagos」)や、『Lodger』のダークで繊細なユーモア(トーマス・レールの「Tight as a Drum」、フリップの「Exposure」)と共通点を見出す曲もある。エキサイティングでボーダーレスなサウンドトラック集!

Saint Etiennes Bob Stanley and the British Film Institutes Jason Wood compiled Cafe Exil: New Adventures in European Music 1972-1980 as an exploration of the types of music David Bowie and Iggy Pop might have been listening to in Europe during the time period, particularly during their Berlin years. Fantastic Voyage is a continuation of this concept, focusing on music that appeared in the wake of Bowies famed Berlin Trilogy, recorded with Brian Eno and producer Tony Visconti. The selections range from artists associated with the burgeoning new wave and post-punk scenes to veteran art rock figures who were entering new phases of creativity. The set opens with Simple Minds "Theme for Great Cities," a propulsive instrumental that could make an ideal theme for a travelogue program. Theres stiff industrial funk from Cabaret Voltaire and Thomas Leer, as well as Ryuichi Sakamotos quirky electro jam "Riot in Lagos" and more abstract electronic explorations from Patrick Cowley and Harald Grosskopf. Grauzones timeless, electrifying "Eisbar" represents the Neue Deutsche Welle movement (though the band was actually Swiss), and the closest connection to the earlier Krautrock scene is the inclusion of the languid, groovy "Ode to Perfume" by Cans Holger Czukay. The collections more theatrical selections include the Associates "White Car in Germany," "No Self Control" from Peter Gabriels third album, and the Walker Brothers radical reinvention "Nite Flights." The compilers not only pick a track from Robert Fripps solo debut Exposure (its art-funk title track), but the weightless, atmospheric "The Farther Away I Am" from Sacred Songs, the amazing Daryl Hall solo effort that Fripp produced. Other surprises include a synth chanson ("Patriarcat") by Brigitte Fontaine and Areski Belkacem and a sci-fi disco tune ("Silicon Chip") by Basil Kirchin, best known for composing soundtracks and library music. Fantastic Voyage is a fine sampler of experimental pop sounds that would influence adventurous musicians throughout the following decades. ~ Paul Simpson