DIEU EST FOU

A French singer/songwriter, who's early singles from the 60's indicated a good career in a Soft Pop style.Duffard, who actually kept releasing music from mid-60's to mid-70's through different surname variations, had an expressive voice, as captured in his first singles, which he could eventually use in another way in 1976, when he released the album ''Dieu est fou'', recorded at Studios Ferber in Paris.The line-up of this work includes about 20 guest musicians, most notably Magma's Francis Moze (bass), Claude Engel (guitar) and Yochk'o Seffer (sax), Working Progress's Tony Bonfils (bass), Bernard Lubat (drums), Marc Chantereau (percussion), North-African sax player Jacques Noureddine, Gong's Tim Blake (keyboards) and no less than four female singers.Duffard played keyboards and of course sings in this work.

Duffard's solo work was a really intelligent and innovative move, speaking about mid-70's.While he never actually abandoned his roots as a strong songwriter and melodic singer, he brings up here an impressive line-up of musicians with a certain Avant Garde, Jazz and Prog background to complete a haunting work, sounding somewhat like an Avant-Prog opera with definite Zeuhl influences, fronted by the talent of the guest musicians.This work, which is possibly a concept album, is divided in six, rather long movements, that alternate between Free Improvisation, complex Progressive Rock and Orchestral Pop.But even so the description is rather simplistic, as there are also strong elements from Chamber Music, Jazz and Horn Rock in an effort that often sounds quite disjointed and chaotic, but at the end succeeds to bring up its own charm.The calm, acoustic moments with the narrations and Duffard's sensitive voice are extremely emotional and usually break into sinister, instrumental themes with powerful sax scratches, grandiose string orchestrations and odd, proggy workouts.The haunting vocals of the female choir offer a bombastic operatic feeling, while there are also plenty of beautiful piano preludes included, performed by Duffard himself.Extended sax/guitar/piano exercises deliver a complex Progressive Rock side and the changes between the moods is endless and often genuine.Note that the orchestral lines were performed under the guidance of conductor Vladimir Kojoukharov, which strengthens the evident Classical leanings of ''Dieu est fou''.

I guess Duffard continued his career as a singer at some point through the 70's, but this album is definitely his pinnacle as a performer and composer.A multi-inspired, typical French Prog release with elements from Zeuhl, Classical Music, Jazz and Pop.Warmly recommended to all fans of demanding, slightly dissonant musical adventures.