Ilous & Decuyper “Ilous & Decuyper” {FRA} [1971] @ 160 & 256kbps – (Creative and Unpretentious Hippie Folk)

If you like French 60’s and 70’s music, probably you have noticed that at least 15% of the bands were Folk acts, to be more specific “celtic” folk acts: where Malicorne & Alan Stivell were the “kings” surrounded, among others, by Gwendal, La Bamboche, La Chifonie, Souderline, etc. The rest of the folk acts, looked for its influences not in the dim woods of Normandy, but in the hippie North American folk, with truly impressive results.

Bands like Tangerine (with Valérie Blesh), Mormos (an american-french band ) or the Duo that we reviewed today, seems to be a minority among the rest, but believe me, the achievements are GREAT!

Primarily, Ilous & Decuyper could be described as a French answer to CS&N, but for me that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Their arrangements were more intrincated, meticulously crafted and full of experiments, also they vocal harmonies were very close to the craftsmanship of Brian Wilson.

Dag Erik Asbjorsen points that: “Tracks such as “Vous Mourrez Demain”, “Berceuse” and “Mélancolie” have something in common with the pastoral, lazy atmosphere of the short songs on Pink Floyd’s More and Atom Heart Mother or Mc Cartney’s Ram. “Beurk!” is almost a cross between “Honky Tonk Woman” and “Drive my Car”. A Norwegian nursery rhyme (sung by a female from the Oslo-area, if you need to know!) appeared from some reason at the beginning of “Cor Bucolique”, before giving way to a slow instrumental for French horn (an instrument frequently used by Martin Circus), acoustic guitar and bird song. Throughout there is creative use of studio effects (strange echoes, warbled Leslie sounds and double-tracking). Most important of all, the Songwriting is on par with several major artists.”

With nothing more to add, I just want to let you know another great reason for own an album like this one: They made an AWESOME cover of Eleanor Rigby, ¿need to say more?

Keep Listening!

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Ilous & Decuyper-Eleanor Rigby