english version

In an enigmatic, deceptively serene sleeve, bathed in strangely disturbing winter light, appears the deeply rooted shadow of a man staring miles into the distance. His freakish, coat and confident stance, his thick horn-rimmed glasses and wind tousled hair give him every air of a slightly decadent aristocrat, while the gothic typeface to his left succeeds in adding a nice baroque touch. Standing to such ceremony, La Formule du Baron obviously cannot be a record like any other. To confirm our first impression, our mysterious Baron decides to invite us to an incredible and sumptuous musical banquet, defined by a freedom and inventiveness rarely found together on one same record. A crazy alchemist, let loose in his mythical CBE studio, our host concocts succulent musical recipes exuding the perfume of sparkling orchestral pop, an aroma of spicy funk, a sprinkling of unbridled jazz, and the incredible vapours of mutant variety of the curious vocals kind. Behind this mind-blowing production, these generous creations and this old-fashioned pseudonym hides in fact one of greatest producers the hexagon has ever known, the passionate, and sadly missed Bernard Estardy. Loyal organist for Nino Ferrer, he also produced and rubbed shoulders with practically  all of French variety’s personalities, composed several library music pieces, and gave birth to his fair share of cult space disco tracks. Impossible to categorise, La Formule du Baron remains his masterpiece, standing alongside the pop and psychedelic greats of the 60s and 70s. Cult, no less.