Lard Free ~ France

Gilbert Artman's Lard Free (1973)

I'd longed struggled with the debut album from Gilbert Artman's Lard Free. Having already digested the superb I'm Around Midnight and Lard Free III, the debut was cut from a different cloth, one not so much to my liking. To this day, I'd submit it's the weakest of the three, but on reflection there's still much to admire. One thing that becomes apparent here is that Lard Free were still working with a jazz background. And free jazz at that, a style I'm not ever likely to warm up to. So the opening songs reflect that, though the raw guitar is very appealing in this setting. Side 1 would have fit perfectly on the Futura label. It's not until Side 2 that the band demonstrates an early version of the sound that Heldon adopted just one year later. Brooding electronics, and searing atmospheric electric guitars and calming-the-nerves smooth saxophone. 'Livarot Respiration' has this wonderful late night jazz groove - as found in the Twilight Zone. Overall a good one, but not necessarily representing the sound Lard Free are most known for.

Ownership: 2008 Captain Trip (CD). Papersleeve gatefold. Acquired in 2019.

First copy: 1973 Vamp (LP). Acquired in 1994. Sold in the mid 90s.

1994; 4/3/19 (review)

I'm Around Midnight (1975)

Whereas the debut tended towards noisy electronics and free jazz, Lard Free on the follow up I'm Around About Midnight brings in no less a luminary than Richard Pinhas, and subsequently turns out a Heldon styled nightmare (and that's a very good thing). Pinhas' tortured bluesy guitar and down tuned Moog are in abundance, and the whole album sounds like a long lost Heldon album from around the time of Agneta Nilsson. Perhaps with a touch of Artman's future project Urban Sax on display. A splendid album of electronik musik. As well, I enjoy the late 1940's era Pigalle District artwork.

Ownership: 

1975 Vamp (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 1994.

2008 Captain Trip (CD). Papersleeve. Acquired in 2014.

1994; 2/15/03; 1/3/14 (review)

Also own: Lard Free III.

1/3/14 (new entry)