Jack Arel

Way before The X Files and its paranoiac science-fiction style trip outs, there was Aux Frontières du Possible, an ambitious 13 episode French TV series created in 1970 and unquestionably erring towards the fantasy world. A great moment in television, which has achieved cult status today. For the soundtrack, the producers had the excellent idea of calling upon the esteemed services of Jack Arel, one of library music’s best, and the mastermind behind some of English label Warner Chappell’s greatest works. With the help of Pierre Dutour, another big name in European production music, Arel opts for a strong and effective orchestration that has nothing to envy the English, though masters of the genre. Tracking, a total tribute to the Temptations in their psychedelic phase, assumes the role of theme tune and easily rivals the best soundtracks composed by the likes of Lalo Schifrin and Quincy Jones. The track Sixième continent leads on in the darker opposite direction of a haunted jazzbeat fantasy, with its impeccable rhythm and bizarre construction, which constantly takes it up to a new level. As for Mutation, it explores the funk/blaxpoitation groove even further, bursting with brass in union, fuzz guitar and your fill of superb humming flute. Rare groove, cult soundtrack and psychedelic funk lovers can rejoice at finally seeing this essential LP reissued, a key element in Mr Arel’s magnificent discography.

• 1 tracking
• 2 sixieme continent
• 3 si bien
• 4 mutation