JEAN-CLAUDE VANNIER L'Enfant Assassin des Mouches CD"Vannier scored the arrangements to Serge Gainsbourg's 1971 classic 'Histoire de Melody Nelson' before recording this; 'The Child Assassin of the Flies.' Judging by his intense psych-funk-choral vision, he is the 'French David Axelrod,' albeit Axelrod in an insane asylum. Bells ring, people mumble and yes, flies buzz, while the music's dizzy extremity recalls such European astro-travellers as Aphrodite's Child. It's a great LP - and difficult to pigeonhole - with equal doses of psychedelic, classical, soundtrack-esque, prog, jazz, fat beats, avant garde and funk."
We grabbed this after reading the insane hype on the cover (ringing endorsements from Jarvis Cocker, Jim O'Rourke, and Tim Gane of Stereolab) and this gem did not disappoint. As detailed above, the music is all over the place and somewhat difficult although if you give yourself over to it, you'll find a highly rewarding listen every time. You're likely never to hear anything like it.
