Space Oddities 1976/ 1985

Bernard Fevre played in French pop group Les Francs Garcons and recorded several LPs of library music and sound illustrations before he embraced disco and made the far-ahead-of-its-time Disco Club in 1978, under the moniker Black Devil. After that record was re-released by Aphex Twins Rephlex label during the 2000s, Fevre continued making new music as Black Devil Disco Club, releasing several albums that offered variations on his spooky, offbeat signature sound, while also incorporating dub influences and venturing into pop with the collaboration-heavy Circus. His early library albums were eventually reissued, along with previously unreleased material from that period (Orbit Ceremony 77). Space Oddities 1976-1985 is the first compilation of Fevres vintage work across various aliases, and its a treasure trove of vivid electronic abstractions that veer from suspenseful to campy. Somewhat like Mort Garson if he was enamored by space and science fiction rather than the occult and plant life, Fevres music is filled with bubbling, whooshing textures and cosmic melodies, sometimes resembling a sort of intergalactic exotica. Fevre clearly prefers music with pulsating rhythms and mysterious, playful hooks rather than formless experiments, so everything here is enticing and accessible. There are plenty of tracks that could be used as theme songs or incidental music for a Lost in Space-type sci-fi series. A pair of Disco Club cuts are included, while most of the other tracks come from Fevre LPs like Suspense and Cosmos 2043, as well as a record produced under the name Milpatte during the early 80s. In retrospect, the faux reggae song "Rasta" (credited to Old Gang Jah) wasnt such a good idea and could have been left in the vault, but its the only dud on the release. Otherwise, Space Oddities 1976-1985 is an illuminating collection of fun, creative synth gems. ~ Paul Simpson