This is Spinal Tap or Total Freakout?

I don’t wanna jinx it, but it looks like I may have just about kicked this damned mystery virus. The last week, especially the last five days, has been a seesaw of fever, malaise, and a dearth of inspiration, all tidily wrapped in a vicodin-based numbness; thus, the lack of updates. I spent Friday afternoon in a hospital bed getting a freakin’ spinal tap, for chrissakes—fortunately, ‘twas not the dreaded meningitis as suspected, or I wouldn’t be tappin’ this note out to ya’ll right now. Best to be cautious, though, and withhold judgment ‘til tomorrow, at least, as I’ve thought this beast kicked before.

So, for my first night back, I briefly toyed with the notion of a timely post on Spinal Tap, the band, but, for some unknown yet prudent reason, I nixed that idea. Instead, I will be reporting on a thoroughly wonderful and equally obscure comp of French, Belgian, and Canadian psych bands from the late sixties and early seventies:

Satan Belanger presente:
Total Freakout Volume 3
Quebec-France-Belgique 1968-1973 Psyche Jello

First things first. Just dig on that album cover. A coupla wackos, fer sure, all duded up in bear costumes AND space suits.

Secondly, on compilations in general. There was a time not so long ago, that I didn’t spend much time on them, but as I dig deeper into the obscurities of the past, I continue to find a multitude of absolutely stellar collections that end up spending a great deal of time in my disc player. Surely there will be more similar-minded posts to come in the future.

And you thought the French-speaking weren’t psychedelic? This is some of the nuttiest, most exotic, all-over-the-place music I’ve ever heard! Compiled by Satan Belanger aka Biberons Batis aka Bruno Tanguay, an apparently legendary underground musician and record collector from Quebec and issued on the Montreal-based Mucho Gusto Records, these eighteen tracks of wah-wah, fuzz, horns, echo, shakers, strings, and sound effects, will get yer booty a-shakin’ and yer lysergic dreams a-flowin’.

Consisting mostly, but not entirely, of total obscurities and one-hit wonders (the liner notes do claim that one of these songs hit #1 in Quebec in 1973), this compilation comes highly, highly recommended. I’m a bit skeptical as to whether the first two volumes of Total Freakout even exist, as I can’t find any information online to support that notion, or if maybe this disc was labeled "Volume 3" just to fuck with me. If not, I’d love to track down copies of those earlier volumes.

And now, the mp3s. Song-by-song analysis c/o Aquarius Records—head over there now to order this gem!

P.B. + 3 ½ - Gazou, gazou
The opening track by P.B. + 3 1/2 is a funky soft porn soundtrack (well, sounds like it, the liner notes assure us it is not even though the artist did indeed do porn sountracks) slowly loping bassline and the melody played by a kazoo. Yep, a kazoo. Complete with summery feel-good background vocals and bizarre Perrey And Kingsley sound effects. Apparently P.B moved to L.A. and recorded music for Star Trek: The Next Generation!

Chris Gallbert – Sing-Sing

Track two is just as wacked with a total head nodding groove, the main riff played on a violin and booming Morricone choral style men's choir background vocals, swirling cinematic strings and a wailing Scott Walker-ish vocal, super dramatic and WAY over the top.

Stella – L’idole des jaunes

The third track is a fuzzy, psychedelic girl-group-groove from Sixties French pop idol Stella, a totally guitar heavy workout, with a super Hendrixy 'scuse me.. type riff, kick ass horns and her throaty, over affected vocals, but totally catchy and wonderful.

N/P Fit & Limo – Terra Incognita