Harlem Pop Trotters

Harlem Pop Trotters: Penwick and Plongee Synthetique
From: Harlem Pop Trotters (Les Treteaux, 1975 / Kif/Melodie En Sous Sol, 1994)

So, back to my neighbours across the pond with another classic French funk release, this time from the mysteriously mustached bikers that called themselves the Harlem Pop Trotters. Bizarre name, bizarre front cover, but a great album of jazz/funk fusion.

I won't even pretend to have got my hand on an OG version of this as everything has it's limits including my bank account. This is from a French reissue by Kif/Melodie En Sous Sol from 2004 which is very reasonably priced and definitely worth picking up. The original version appeared on the highly collectible Les Treteaux label home to many much sought after records including the legendary Godchild.

To my shame I know pretty much nothing about this band apart from that this appears to be their only album and that it was released in the mid seventies. I have also been led to believe that the men behind it are Library musicians Jean-Claude Pierric and Francois Rolland though I can't back that up with proof. I like to think that this adds to the legend of the album but that could just be me being lazy.

The first tune I have for you is their most famous track, Penwick. Breaking straight in with a sublime bass groove, the track builds on this with the lightest of guitars and proper seventies synthesizers. None of those lame ass delicate strings here this is pure and beefy electronic noise. Add on a playful guitar accompaniment and you have a real summertime headnodder of a track

The second tune, Plongee Sythentique, is (as the title helpfully suggests) way way way more out there. A warped bassline throbs throughout the track with true space age chords layered over the top. The beats too are more like early Aphex Twin than something you would expect on a jazz/funk album, scattered randomly throughout and made up of layers of crashes and chimes. In fact, the whole track sounds more like a precursor to early Detroit techno than anything else. Despite all this, the track is resolutely funky to the end. Great stuff.

Props to DJ Mawhie from Da Loft Crew for introducing me to this record.