A Guide To The Unhinged Genius of Jean Pierre Massiera - Red Bull Music Academy Daily

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A Guide to the
Unhinged Genius of
Jean Pierre Massiera
Jean Pierre Massiera is one of those rare musicians who was not only hugely
prolific, but also someone that held convention in complete disregard. Throughout
the ’60s and ’70s Massiera masterminded records in wildly different genres, from
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intergalactic Italo disco and psychedelic rock to spine-chilling soundtracks.
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enough for Massiera to establish himself as a producer with a schizo-delic vision,

ploughing through fuzzy psyche-beat and tripped-out funk, while leaning heavily
on experimental effects, religious imagery and all-round weirdness.
Massiera’s next stop was Antibes, and his reputation as a mixing desk genius
made him the go-to man for any artist or group looking for a raw, psychedelic edge
to their music. With his new studio he hit his stride as a perverse purveyor of
cosmic disco, and putting his touch to a raft of uncategorisable masterpieces that
are still sought after today. RBMA’s Max Cole takes a look at some of the better
known records from Massiera’s strange world below, touching on the many styles
across his discography.
J-P MASSIERA (1978): HERMAN'S ROCKET - Space Woman
Herman's Rocket - Space Woman
Herman’s Rocket - Space Woman
Probably Massiera’s best known track, this 1977 space chugger features the cream
of JPM’s studio band, notably his half-brother and songwriting partner Bernard
Torelli, co-producer Patrick Barbero, and the powerful vocals of psych rock singer
Jessy Joyce. Apparently requested to create a one-off space disco project by label
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J-P MASSIERA (1976): ATLANTIDE - Le regard des Dieux
Atlantide - Le Regard Des Dieux
Atlantide - Le Regard Des Dieux
Showing Massiera’s more folky proggy side, this one-off project demonstrated that
in the mid-’70s, it wasn’t just the UK or US that claimed the world’s best prog rock
bands. JPM and his band – including longtime collaborator singer Patrick Attali –
took cues from Yes and King Crimson, flipping them in their own French way,
adding a touch of sitar and mellotron, and even some gothic chorals.
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Jessy Joyce - Only In My Dream
Jessy Joyce - Only In My Dream
One recognisable aspect of Massiera’s sound was singer Jessy Joyce, who after
two 7-inches of funky soul and wild hard rock, crafted her debut album with a four
piece overseen by Massiera, with an emphasis on hypnotic harmonies, heavily
contrasting dynamics, and weighty grooves.
Visitors - Joyo Can You Hear Me Pt. 1
Another one of Massiera’s most enduring projects, Visitors embraced outer space
with typical psych rock bombast, including violins from Didier Lockwood, before
transforming into a cosmic electronic band in 1981. The title track of the second LP
comes across as some kind of industrial Sesame Street theme tune, with its
percussive sequences and insistent spelling, but it’s “Joyo Can You Hear Me Pt 1”
that really charts unknown territory. (Plus the cover looks like a HudMo t-shirt circa
Satin Panthers.)
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The Starlights - Mao Mao
The Starlights - Mao Mao
One of Massiera’s passions was field recording. You can hear it on this 7-inch
record from The Starlights, with Massiera and a band including Gerard Brent
underpinning the themes from African singers to create some deep tribal funk.
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Venus Gang - Love to Fly
Venus Gang - Love to Fly
Following the success of Herman’s Rocket, Massiera put together another one-off
project called Venus Gang, from which this slow disco jam is taken. Jessy Joyce
delivers another two-headed vocal, switching from seductive whispers to a
psyched-out scream with ease. According to Massiera, “the tracks were composed
with mixes of delirious voices and Moogs. Musicians and singers improvised totally.
Afterward I added ‘theme’ gimmicks and different mixes keeping it fresh and
unplanned.” This album also reveals Massiera’s fondness for studio techniques and
eccentric mythologies, with a disco version of Joe Meek’s “Telstar” closing out
side one.
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Horrific Child - L’Etrange Monsieur Whinster
Horrific Child - L’Etrange Monsieur Whinster
If there’s one album that might best sum up Massiera’s vision, it would be this
Horrific Child project. Filled with prog riffage, African rhythms, spoken word and
chaotic tape samples, this record was an experiment in uneasiness, a listening
experience with only the faintest of familiar tropes to hold onto. Utilising tape
sections from the studio vaults, the album was given some semblance of cohesion
with added basslines and recitations from HP Lovecraft and Baudelaire.
By Max Cole on January 14, 2015
On a different note
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Interview: Trevor Jackson Pupp Music: An Interview

With Prins Thomas
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A Guide to the Unhinged Genius of Jean Pierre Massiera | Re... https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/01/jean-pierre-m...

enough for Massiera to establish himself as a producer with a schizo-delic vision,

J-P MASSIERA (1978): HERMAN'S ROCKET - Space Woman

Herman's Rocket - Space Woman

Herman’s Rocket - Space Woman

J-P MASSIERA (1976): ATLANTIDE - Le regard des Dieux

Atlantide - Le Regard Des Dieux

Atlantide - Le Regard Des Dieux

Jessy Joyce - Only In My Dream

Jessy Joyce - Only In My Dream

Visitors - Joyo Can You Hear Me Pt. 1

The Starlights - Mao Mao

The Starlights - Mao Mao

Venus Gang - Love to Fly

Venus Gang - Love to Fly

Horrific Child - L’Etrange Monsieur Whinster

Horrific Child - L’Etrange Monsieur Whinster

By Max Cole on January 14, 2015

Interview: Trevor Jackson Pupp Music: An Interview

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