Recollection GRM/Editions Mego Vinyl & CDs

Review: Labyrinthe! stands as a singular achievement in Pierre Henry's illustrious career, showcasing his ability to craft music even when deprived of his usual sonic resources. The sounds for this piece were supplied by GRM collaborators, each bringing their own unique qualities and textures. Despite not being his own material, Henry's distinct voice and musical vision quickly come to the forefront. Through this intricate soundscape, Henry constructs a maze of audio, focusing intently on the development and manipulation of the sounds provided. His clarity of purpose and deliberate approach is evident throughout, as he shapes the contributions of others into something unmistakably his own. The piece is built upon the interplay of disparate elements, all meticulously woven together into a cohesive sonic journey. Henry described Labyrinthe! as a collaborative venture, a fusion of 58 sound fragments from seven different composers, forming a work that feels both expansive and tightly intertwined. His harmonic sensitivity ensures that the diverse sources never clash but instead create a complex, interlocking sound world. Labyrinthe! is a brilliant testament to Henry's mastery of electroacoustic composition and his remarkable ability to turn limitations into creative triumphs.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Divine Comedie stands as a remarkable collaboration between Bernard Parmegiani and Francois Bayle, released by Recollection GRM as a comprehensive four-LP set, complete with a poster. This ambitious work draws inspiration from Dante's epic, offering a sonic journey through hell, purgatory, and paradise. Parmegiani's segment, representing Inferno, is an intense exploration of anguish and contradiction. Composed between 1971 and 1972, it features piercing synth whirs, haunting vocal chants and insect-like sounds that evoke a sense of despair. His careful manipulation of Michel Hermon's voice serves to anchor the chaotic soundscape while simultaneously distorting the narrative. This approach results in a chilling audio experience that combines surreal sound design with an almost theatrical presentation. In contrast, Bayle's Purgatory embraces a minimalist aesthetic, employing Hermon's voice with a sense of clarity amidst an intricate layering of abstract sounds. His composition reveals a bleak serenity, punctuated by flickers of hope that emerge from a rich mixture of drones and organic instrumentation. The final album, Paradis, is a collaborative effort that gradually leads listeners toward illumination. Stripped of narration, this 22-minute piece unfolds slowly, interweaving delicate electronics with celestial vibes and vibrant accordion melodies, culminating in an ethereal crescendo. Together, Parmegiani and Bayle create an audio experience that challenges conventional boundaries, transforming Dante's vision into a wonderful exploration of sound and emotion, making Divine Comedie a significant addition to the genre of musique concrete.