2023 reissue - Guy Pedersen's magical Maxi-Music, originally released on cult Parisian library label tele Music in 1972, is psyche-rock and jazz-funk gold. It's a vital Pederson outing, oscillating between the rough and the smooth, but always with those hypnotic grooves. It's a start-to-finish winner, yet the final 13-minute-long opus will blow minds. "Prétexte Pour Indicatifs" is so mighty, it was covered by Keith Mansfield on "Hot Property" from Big Business/Wind Of Change on KPM. "Purgatoire Mood (Interlude)" is a beautiful segue into the stunning horn-laced, swift-paced aggressive jazzy excellence of "Purgatoire Mood 1" and the more poetic "Purgatoire Mood 2". "Christophus Colombus" is another song with multiple sections; the intro a rapid wah-wah-enhanced psych-rock statement that truly thrills before settling into a more steady yet no-less unrelenting guitar-funk showcase with wordless vocals and, later, reflective guitar and piano in gorgeous harmony. Closing out this electrifying side, the elegant "Bass In Love" is a soft'n'sultry slo-mo funk instrumental, as rough cello, jazzy piano and salacious, breathy vocals combine to create the scent of lingering heat to pretty rousing effect. Ushering in Side B, "Sing Song Bass" is a slow starter but, once the drums kick in brilliantly, there comes a deeply melodic, propulsive, organ-flute-piano-bass gem. The wonky, delirious psych-pop of "Petit Moujik De Nuit" is a curiously compelling number but it serves only as the pre-curser to the phenomenal closing track. An absolute beast that totally slays all before it! Yes, despite Maxi-Music being that rarest of library records -- a record that can stand up on its own from front to back -- it really does contain that one absolute killer track. And Peterson saved the best until last. The real highlight is the blazing psych-rock funky burner that is the infamous 13-minute thriller "Kermesse Non Héroique". Containing a wicked flute solo it genuinely sounds like something off the first Dungen album. The audio for Maxi-Music has been remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the original, iconic Tele Music house sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
| A1 | Prétexte Pour Indicatifs |
| A2 | Purgatoire Mood (Interlude) |
| A3 | Purgatoire Mood 1 |
| A4 | Purgatoire Mood 2 |
| A5 | Christophus Colombus |
| A6 | Bass In Love |
| B1 | Sing Song Bass |
| B2 | Petit Moujik De Nuit |
| B3 | Kermesse Non Héroique |
