There's something chilling and other-worldly about Supernature. It made a big impression on my young ears when I first started listening to pop music, on Capital Radio in August 1977 following the death of Elvis (remind me to tell you more about that some time).
Cerrone, as with Georgio Moroder, Jean-Michel Jarre and Deodato, produced European disco at its coldest and most futuristic. Like much of the rock music of the time, this was music with grandiose pretensions, but was also democratic in its popular appeal. How exhilarating when it delivered.
I never heard Supernature for years after its release, picking up a secondhand copy in the early 90s. It enjoyed a revival in the mid-90s when its genius was recognised by the likes of Daft Punk.
I think the Parisian Jean-Marc Cerrone himself put it best: "I don't produce records to press up my musical ideas to any minorities. Musical desires of that kind should be better practiced at home in the own cellar. For me it is more important to make music that appeals to broad audiences - I intentional want to work commercial. Why this is tabooed by so many people doesn't go into my head." Quite.
3 comments:
The track's just been reissued on CD on the 'Discovered - As Sampled By Daft Punk' compilation. Aside from Chaka Khan and Sister Sledge it was all pretty new stuff to me
Edwin Birdsong's 'Cola Bottle Baby', as used on 'Harder, Better, Stronger, Faster' is my current fave.
I got that compilation - that's possibly what reminded me of Supernature. Squelchy squelchy synths
Strangely, a big record in the early days of hip hop; 'Rocket In The Pocket' was a big tune for the DJ's, and the drums were used a lot. One of those weird sounds I'd heard cut up for years on a million Streetsounds Electro tracks, before I heard the original track.
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