Released in
France in 1977 and reissued worldwide by Recommended in 1981 and on CD
in 1993, Barricade 3 is the perfect anti-pop record, utterly strange and
witty. Recorded with very limited means by Hector Zazou and Joseph
Racaille (ZNR), it already showed how inventive and resourceful a record
producer Zazou would become. The album is put under Erik Satie's star,
from the highly simple melodies and occasional outbursts of madness (the
Satie of "Parade" and "Mercure"), down to convoluted song titles like
"Editioun Especialo d'uno Griho de Jardin" (neither French nor Spanish)
and a clearly intentional amateurish feel. The pieces, very short, are
mostly instrumental. Whenever French lyrics pop up, they follow their
own dadaist reality. Instrumentation is often limited to piano,
synthesizers, and woodwinds, but also includes occasional percussion and
guitar. When more lyrical, the music rises to the level of Robert
Wyatt's songwriting, particularly impressive in "Annie la Telie" and
"Solo un Dia." These two provide strong highlights, along with the suite
"La Pointe de Tes Seins Est Comme un Pétale de Pavot," "Le Grande
Compositeur Vu de Face," and the stupidly funny "Avrile en Suède." Back
in 1977, this album didn't have its match when it came to weirdness.
With age it remains an unusual attempt at accessible avant-garde art,
French style, and a very entertaining listen for anyone interested in
music that is left of center. One could even argue it predated by two
decades the naïve pop current represented by Stereolab and Felix Kubin. Line-up / Musicians Hector Zazou/synths,electric piano,bass,vocals,violin Joseph Racaille/vocals,piano,violin Patrick Portella/clarinet,bass clarinet André Jaume/saxophone David Rueff/violin,flute Fernand d'Arlès/drums,percussion Gilly Bell/synths,violin Discography(Album) Barricade 3 1976
1.Prélude Aux Mémoires D'Un Chien 2.Première Tentative 3.Trop De Douceur Ou Les Trois Soeurs: 2e Soeur 4.L'Armoire 5.Le Grand Compositeur Vu De Dos: Boston Mexicain N° 1 6.Le Grand Compositeur Vu De Dos: Boston Mexicain N° 2 7.Le Grand Compositeur Vu De Dos: Boston Mexicain N° 3 8.La Pointe De Tes Seins Est Comme Un Pétale De Pavot: 1er Movement 9.La Pointe De Tes Seins Est Comme Un Pétale De Pavot: 2e Movement 10.La Pointe De Tes Seins Est Comme Un Pétale De Pavot: 3e Movement 11.Solo Un Dia 12.La Vieio Mostro: Part II 13.Espelisoun D'Uno Ribambello D'Evenimen Espetaclous Valentin Bilot 14.Armistice Couronné De Feuillages 15.Le Grand Compositeur Vu De Face 16.Seynete 17.Editioun Especialo D'Uno Griho De Jardin 18.Annie La Telie 19.Naïve Descrption De La Formation D'Un Sentiment 20.Avril En Suède
