Cohelmec

THE GROUNDBREAKING 60'S & 70'S SOUND OF PIERRE BAROUH'S PIONEERING FRENCH LABEL SARAVAH, MIXING JAZZ, UNDERGROUND POP, SOUL, AFRICAN AND BRAZILIAN MUSIC. A 2-LP FEATURING BRIGITTE FONTAINE, ARESKI, JACQUES HIGELIN, ALFRED PANOU AND BAROQUE JAZZ TRIO WITH LINER NOTES BY BENJAMIN BAROUH AND JACQUES DENIS. Wewantsounds is delighted to present the first retrospective on vinyl of Saravah Records, one of the most influential French labels founded in Paris by singer, songwriter and producer Pierre Barouh in 1966. Featuring Brigitte Fontaine, Jacques Higelin, Alfred Panou, and many rare tracks reissued on vinyl for the first time, the set gives a glimpse of the free-form, groovy sound of the label between 1965 and 1976. Supervised by Pierre Barouh's son and Saravah historian, Benjamin Barouh, The 2-LP Gatefold set comes with a 4p insert featuring liner notes (Eng/Fr) by Benjamin plus an exclusive interview of Barouh's partner Fernand Boruso by Jacques Denis telling fascinating anecdotes around the label.

This isn't quite what one would expect from a man in Sun Ra's orbit. Quite frankly, this is mannered music, composed and arranged in side-long suites, sort of an African-tinged Porgy & Bess. The powerful voice of Aiisha kicks off each side with a sort of lyrical narration – you know the sort: lots of images of cotton fields and hot baked streets, fairly typical for this sort of '60s ensemble. What isn't as typical is the instrumentation. Besides the expected African percussion, koto and other Asian instruments (including a sitar) are heard. One of the most affecting pieces might be "Celestial Strings," a duet of koto and kora backed with tumbling percussion. Like most of the album, the effect is subtly jarring and just different enough to be unique.