‘Funky Chimes: Belgian Grooves From The 70’s’
Album released 2nd June 2017 on Sdban
The stories behind some of the nuggets presented here on ‘Funky Chimes: Belgian Grooves From The 70’s’, released 2nd June via Sdban, are as gripping as the treasure hunt that un-earthed them.
Take ‘Experience’ (performer unknown), for instance: this one was found on a 5-inch flexi disc people in Belgium could obtain by saving points from cookies and pasta packages. Georges Hayes Philharpopic Orchestra simply must be the weirdest big band ever to have seen the Belgian light of day, if only for its name. And The Sumos, a band brought into existence to cash in on Carl Douglas’ world scorcher ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ (1974), decide to go the whole hog and release an entire album filled with oriental bubblegum.
But let’s not jump to wrong conclusions, here: ‘Funky Chimes’ is not a freak show, but a two-hour collection of excellent and unique grooves. The Free Electronic Concept is a rare blend of soul and budding electronic music. Skelorptak is a one-off collaboration between the Polish saxophone player Jan Wróblewski and the skilled jazz orchestra of the Belgian national broadcast corporation.
‘Funky Chimes’ proves why Belgium is still considered a unique and fertile breeding ground in the world of dance music. This is where it all started, more than 40 years ago.
SDBANCD08: Deluxe Limited Edition 2CD incl. 36p booklet
The luck of the draw: being an artist in Belgium is almost tantamount to be living on dire straits. A small country equals a small audience, and before you know it, you’ve played every available venue. Meanwhile, making it abroad requires a small miracle: nobody’s waiting for the next big thing from Belgium.
Belgium is nowhereland. Oddly, though, that’s what makes it so interesting as well, because that’s exactly where the best music comes from: nowhere. When nothing special or spectacular’s anticipated, anything and everything goes. Besides, living in a country where every musical ripple is noticed, has its advantages too. Especially if that country also possesses an intense and varied nightlife. Which, by the way, it does.
This complex balance between economic bleakness and artistic freedom regularly proves more fruitful than expected. The will to survive often drives Belgian artists to contradictory approaches; they either try to copy a formula that has proven successful elsewhere or, alternatively, try anything at all, hoping it will catch on. Inevitably, a lot of garbage is produced. But when it does work, the results are often bafflingly good.
In that respect, the first half of the seventies should be regarded as a Golden Age, when a generation of extremely good (session) musicians experimented with funk, jazz, latin and other groovy genres. Unearthing these treasures, though, takes a lot of time and a pair of well-trained ears, since most of them are hidden on single B-sides or obscure editions of library music.
You will also find some lesser-known tracks from the grandmasters, here. The late lamented Marc Moulin is featured in three totally different performances: as a pianist on the debut of his friend Philip Catherine, as a master arranger on the only album by the Belgian chansonnier Lieven and with ‘Mona Call’, a hitherto unknown radio tune he produced under the moniker Kiosk.
‘Funky Chimes: Belgian Grooves From The 70’s’, is also available as 2x 2LP (gatefold 180gr) and 5x 7".
CD1
1. The Soul Scratchers - Scratch My Back (pt. 1 & 2)
2. Francis Coppieters - Funky Chimes
3. S.S.O. - Faded Lady (Instrumental)
4. The Flying Guitar - Barabajagal
5. The Sumos - My Chinese Girl Likes Kung Fu Fighting
6. Bud Hunga And His Diplomatic Music - Travelling On Rhythms
7. Experience - Pink Movement
8. The Peter Laine Orchestra - Tiger Walk
9. Kandahar - The Fancy Model
10. Kiosk - Mona Call
11. Guido Carnagy - Free Way Exit
12. André Brasseur - X
13. Electronic System III - Skylab
CD2
1. The Indian Sound Of... Black Foot - Smoke Signal
2. Hearts Of Soul & Shampoo - We Love The Policeman
3. Roland Thyssen - Riff For Peggy
4. R. Dero - Soul Melody
5. Philip Catherine - Give It Up Or Turn It Aloose
6. Skleroptak - Punktowiec
7. Etta Cameron - Guess We'd Better Break Up Now
8. Selectasound '88 & The Bob Boon Singers - Tabou
9. Hugo Raspoet - Spuitje Op, Laat Je Rijden
10. Leslie Kent - Inner City Blues
11. Patricia Burns - Paddock
12. Georges Hayes And His Philarpopic Orchestra - Concerto For Right Foot And Orchestra
13. The Free Pop Electronic Concept - Chewing Gum Delirium
14. Lieven – Akkerwinde
