Jannick Top - VIVA UTOPIA [update]

Here is my attempt to gather together all the 70's solo material from Jannick Top released via his Utopic Records label, but also adding his various collaborations not included on these albums.

PHASE I

 SIDE A (19:48)
01. Utopia
02. Hypnose n°1
03. Hypnose n°2
04. Epithecantropus Erectus II
 SIDE B (11:07)
05. Hypnose n°3
06. African Dance n°3 (Soleil d'Ork)
07. Hypnose n°4

PHASE II

 SIDE A (18:07)
01. Glas
02. Vaterunser
03. La Musique des Sphères
 SIDE B (24:29)
04. De Futura Hiroshima

"Utopia" & "Epithecantropus Erectus II" are taken from the UTOPIA VIVA solo single from 1975 (Epithecantropus being an embryonic version of "De Futura") and feature Jean Schultheis on drums.
"Hypnose n°1-4" are taken from the 1974 IML library record Hypnose; which is "a basic argument treated by different modern composers dedicated to radio, film and TV musical illustrators" also featuring Teddy Lasry and Gérard Lévêque. "African Dance n°3" is an embryonic version of "Soleil d'Ork", recorded for Speed Limit's second eponymous album (1975).

Then comes the Infernal Futra cycle. Here I tried to structure the different parts of the Futura piece to which his 2008 album, Infernal Machina, was the follow-up. "Glas" is a demo recorded in 1976. "Vaterunser" is taken from the original intro to "De Futura", to be heard on the demo recorded in 1975 with Richard Pinhas (featuring real crying babies and the "our father" prayer recited in german). "La Musique des Sphères" was composed in 1976 but recorded in 1980 in Sénégal during the sessions for Bernard Lavilliers' Noir & Blanc album (the track is Seigneur de Guerre). It was committed to tape in one take during lunch break (featuring Doudou N'Diaye et les Tambours de Dakar on percussions).

The album ends with the 1975 Nancy Jazz Pulsation version of "De Futura Hiroshima" recorded on 16, october 1975. It features 18 musicians: MAGMA -Jannick Top (bass), Chrstian Vander (drums), Gérard Bikialo (keyboards), Stella Vander (vocals), Didier Lockwood (violin); Jean Schultheis (drums), Sauveur Mallia (bass "fret cello" created by Jannick Top), Hervé Derrien (cello), Denys Lable  / Jocelyn Pitchen [from Nucleus] (guitars), Philippe Briche (keyboards), Georges Gasquy (synth), Jean-Pierre Sabartet (piano), Kris Stassinopoulos (percussions), Michel Ripoche [from Zoo] (violin), Mohamed Larbi Ousni (Tunisian violin), Frédérique Gegembach & Martine Toureil (vocals).

To be totally comprehensive, add to the list the existing 1976 tour recordings, released via Jannick's UTOPIC Records label, that include a strange remix of a live extract from MDK, and a strange recording of "La Musique des Sphères" mixed with thunder sound effects in Part 1 and at the end of KMX.

VanderTop

01. Hhaï
02. De Futura
03. La Musique des Sphères / KMX - AXII (Opus 11) [bass solo]
04. Tröller Tanz
 All recordings from 2nd November 1976 (Théâtre de la Renaissance).

01. De Futura [10th, November 1976; Toulon]
02. La Musique Des Sphères / KMX - AXII [19th, October 1976; Antibes]
03. Mekanik Zaïn (Jannick Top Remix) [5th, November 1976; Paris]

ॐ