Studio Der Frühen Musik - Chansons der Trouvères

Telefunken - LP
Germany, 1974
Ancient / Folk / Medieval 

Genuinely killer and cheap recordings of 13th Century Songs from Northern France. Strange where the digging lanes have been taking me recently. A german recordings from the 1970's, and indeed, it sounds like some Werner Herzog's soundtrack or psyche folk released on Pilz.

Just when you think you've heard it all, you fall into a new rabbit hole. Well, you don't exactly fall into new territories the Alice way, I guess, but you go explore these uncharted lands little by little, by recognizing familiar patterns first. That's what happened to me recently with ancient music.

I'm not mentioning German 1970's psychedelic scene by pure chance, it's precisely because I recognized motives I knew from music by Popol Vuh or Emtidi in some ancient music records that I listened to out of curiosity that I kept on listening to them. And to be honest, this Chansons der Trouvères LP is Just as good as Popol Vuh, much less common and for a tenth of the price.

The music is sparse, trance-like and some songs are reaching over 10 minutes, which is quite uncommon for medieval songs recordings. I don't know whether it's because these are songs from Northern France, but there's something cold and rough to these Jacques de Cambrai and Gillebert de Berneville's chansons. It never really gets jolly and fun, and all the better! Coldwave from ancient times! Don't be fooled by the cheap prices, it's a great record from start to finish. It's just that no one knows...(VG+ / VG+)

Tracklist

1. Retrowange Novelle (Raynaud 602)
2. Chanterai Por Mon Coriage (Raynaud 21)
3. Lasse, Pour Quoi Refusai (Raynaud 100)
4. De Moi Doleros Vos Chant (Raynaud 317)
5. Biaus M'Est Estez (Raynaud 1006)
6. Trop Est Mes Maris Jalos (Raynaud 2045)
7. Li Joliz Temps D'Estey (Raynaud 452)