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Date:         Thu, 8 Oct 1992 09:31:13 MET
From:         "(Doumen Jan)" <jqdoumen@VUB.AC.BE>
Subject:      Richard Pinhas - Heldon (Discography)
Comments: To: synth-l@auvm.bitnet

CD discography of
Richard Pinhas-Heldon
By Serge Devadder

This is a summary discography of Richard Pinhas/Heldon featuring the
reissued  work on CD. It is ment as a shopping-guide for those who are
interested in purchasing some of his music.
A very short description of the albums is given as well as a list of musicians
involved. If you don't know the music of Richard Pinhas or his legendary
group Heldon, please feel free to consult the interview by Tack, Hinic,
Hanot and Devadder published in KLEM # 59 (in Dutch) and Audion #22
(in English) and which was also "dropped" on this electro
nic discussion group by Jan Doumen. Another recent interview by other
authors can be found in the April '92 issue of Crystal Infos (in French). You
will find the contact-addresses of these magazines and of a record company
at the end of this document.
The original vinyl albums have all been long out of print and some of them
have become quite pricy collector items. Those of you who look for these
originals should try the regular second-hand auxion collector-lists and
magazines. Since some material has not been reissued (yet), I have included
it below. Some of the original LP-references are also given but these lists
may not be complete (e.g. no Japanese pressings are listed).

All CD's were mastered from the original tapes; there are no tracks re-
recorded from LP-records. With the exception of some ocasional tape-hiss,
the sound-quality is very good.
In some cases the order of the tracks from the original LP's was altered on
the CD's, therefore no attention should be given to their order in this list. So
far, all CD's have been reissued with the original covers.

Here we go!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

HELDON:FIRST
(SPALAX CD 14239)

reissue of ELECTRONIQUE GUERILLA, first LP release: 1974
URUS 001, DISJUNCTA 12/13, COBRA COB 37019
(Richard Pinhas, Alain Renaud, Georges Grunblatt, Gilles Deleuze, Patrick
Gauthier, Coco Roussel, Pierrot Roussel)

Zind
Back to Heldon
Ouais,Marchais,mieux qu'en 68 (ex: Le voyageur)
Nothernland Lady
Circulus Vitiosus
Balade pour Puig Antich

(no bonus material)

The first Heldon CD was recorded with what we might now call "vintage"
electronic instruments such as the AKS synth. The blending of acoustic and
electric guitar with minimal electronics gave Electronique Guerilla a cold,
uneasy feel which would become a Richard Pinhas trademark. It's
completely in the vein of Fripp & Eno's "No Pussyfooting" and f
eatures the famous French philosopher Gilles Deleuze quoting some
Nietschze material.

HELDON:II - ALLEZ TEIA
(SPALAX CD 14235, CUNEIFORM RUNE ?)

reissue,first LP release : 1975
URUS 000002
(Richard Pinhas, Georges Grunblatt, Alain Renaud, Alain Bellaiche)

In the Wake of King Fripp
Aphanisis
Omar Diop Blondin
Moebius
Fluence (a: Continuum Mobile , b: Disjonction Inclusive)
St. Mikael Samstag am Abends
Michel Ettori

(no bonus material)

Allez-Teia sounds much like it's predecessor but has a very distinct
atmosphere due to some beautiful Crimsonian mellotronparts. If you like
Fripp & Eno, this is for you.

HELDON III - IT'S ALWAYS ROCK'N ROLL VOLUME 1
(SPALAX CD 14232)
(Richard Pinhas, Patrick Gauthier, Georges Grunblatt, Gilbert Artman, Jean-
My Thuong, Aurore, Ariel)

ICS Machinique
Cotes de cachalot a la psylocybine
Mechamment Rock
Cocaine Blues
Aurore

HELDON III - IT'S ALWAYS ROCK'N ROLL VOLUME 2 (SPALAX CD
14231)
(same musicians)

Virgin Swedish Blues
Ocean Boogie
Zind Destruction (Bouilli Blues)
Dr. Bloodmoney

Note: The original double album Heldon Third (It's ...)from 1975
(DISJUNCTA 000006/7)was reissued as two separate CD's.

Gilbert Artman (leader of Lard Free and Urban Sax) joins the Heldon-crew
on this double album for a bit of drumming. Some pieces are a bit tedious
due to their length but on the whole it's a deliciously crazy album with i.a.
RP playing "da blues" on a Frippian, LFO-modulated, guitar!  It also
introduces a certain degree of violence which would be
further developped in the later albums.

HELDON:V - UN REVE SANS CONSEQUENCE SPECIALE (SPALAX
CD 14234)

reissue,first LP release: 1976
COBRA COB 3702, COBRA COB 60008
(Richard Pinhas, Franlois Auger, Patrick Gauthier, Didier Batard, Janick
Top)

Marie Virginie C.
Elephanta
MVC II
Toward the Red Line
Perspective 4 ter Muco
Marie et Virginie Comp.

(Two exciting bonus tracks from the same recording sessions bring the total
playing time up to about one hour! Previously unreleased material.)

Some say that this is one of the first industrial records ever made and it has
earned Heldon the title of "First Punk Jazz band". Neuroticaly pulsating
sequencers and megatone percussion by Auger make this album a haunting
experience. It depicts a certain negative look at the cold, harsh realities of
urban life, which contrast quite stongly with the more dreamy and floating
music of the Germans around that period. One of their best.

HELDON 6:INTERFACE
(SPALAX 14230,Cuneiform Rune ?)

reissue,first LP release: 1978
COBRA COB 37013
(Richard Pinhas, Patrick Gauthier, Franlois Auger)

Les Soucoupes Volantes Vertes
Jet Girl (parts 1 and 2)
Le Retour des Soucoupes Volantes Vertes
Bal-A-Fou
Le Fils des Soucoupes Volantes (Vertes) Interface
?(bonus track 1)
?(bonus track 2)

A transition album between the neurotic driving Moog-pulses of Heldon V
and the more complexly orchestrated sound of the later albums. It contains
some realy  impressive jazzy solos too.

HELDON:STAND BY
(SPALAX CD 14233)

reissue,first LP release: 1979
EGG 900578
(Richard Pinhas, Francois Auger, Didier Batard, Klaus Blasquiz, Patrick
Gauthier, Didier Badez)

Stand By
Une Drole de Journee
Bolero

(no bonus material)

The three pieces are quite different in style. Stand By could be defined as
industrial Jazz with a hardrock feel. Bolero is more electronic with its
breathtaking driving sequencers, Patrick Gauthier making history on the
Minimoog, RP 's wailing guitar and  Franlois Auger on thunderous drums.
This whirling, pure adrenalin piece is the perfect synthesis of the later
Heldon style!

RICHARD PINHAS:CHRONOLYSE
(CUNEIFORM RUNE 30 CDX)

reissue,first LP release: 1977
COBRA COB 37015
(Richard Pinhas, Didier Batard, Francois Auger)

Variations I-VII sur le Theme de Bene Gesserit
Duncan Idaho
Paul Atreides

(no bonus material)

Variations are seven exciting echoed sequences on the Moog without
anything added while Paul Atreides is Heldon playing a long, dark piece in
pure King Crimson style with some great mellotronwaves.  Very good
indeed!

RICHARD PINHAS:RHIZOSPHERE
(SPALAX CD 14237)

reissue,first LP release: 1976
COBRA COB 37005, AURAL EXPLORER AE 5002
(Richard Pinhas, Franlois Auger)

Rhizosphere Sequent
A Piece for Duncan
Claire P.
Trapeze/Interference
Rhizosphere

(no bonus material)

For Richard's standards very spacy, almost "cosmic" electronics and an
original experiment blending for the first time Moogsequences with
powerful live percussion.

note: These two first solo albums were originally released in reversed order
of recording. Neiher of both CD's contains any bonus material contrary to
what certain commercial advertisements may claim (Audion-Ultima Thule).

RICHARD PINHAS: ICELAND
(SPALAX CD 14236,CUNEIFORM RUNE ?)

reissue,first release:1979
PULSE 001, POLYDOR RAMSES 2393254
(Richard Pinhas, Franlois Auger, Patrick Gauthier)

Iceland (part 1)
Iceland (part 2)
The Last Kings of Thule (part 1)
Iceland (part 3)
Indicatif Radio
The last Kings of Thule (part 2)
Short Transition
Greenland
Winter Music

(Winter Music is a remarkable, over 20' long, bonus track featuring tape-
loop based frippertronics on keyboard! Previously unreleased material.)

Arguably the most desolate electronic album ever. Icecold synthstrings with
slowly pulsating rhythms create a truely dark and haunting ambiance. Highly
recommended!

RICHARD PINHAS: EAST/WEST
(CUNEIFORM RUNE 31 CDX)

reissue,first LP release: 1980
PULSE 003
(Richard Pinhas, Norman Spinrad, Patrick Gauthier, Francois Auger, Didier

Batard, Steve Shehan, Georges Grunblatt, Dominique E.)
Houston 69:"The Crash Landing"(part1)
London: "Sense of Doubt"
Kyoto: "Kyoto Number 3"
XXXXX: "La Ville sans Nom"
Home: "Ruitor"
New York: "West Side"
Paris: "Beautiful May"
Keflavik: "The Whale Dance"
Houston 69: "Houston 69" (part2)

(no bonus materal)

Around the world in a day. A modern,brighter sound (Emu- and PPG digital
synthesizers) for a more orchestrated and ambitious album. Apart from
containing splendid compositions, the album is also a unique opportunity to
hear SF author Norman Spinrad actually sing.

RICHARD PINHAS: L'ETHIQUE
(SPALAX CD 14238)

reissue,first LP release: 1982
PULSE 006 (Richard Pinhas, Franlois Auger, Patrick Gauthier, Bernard
Paganotti, Clement Bailly, Jean-Philippe Goude, Georges Grunblatt, Gilles
Deleuze)

L'Ethique part 1
Dedicated to KC
Melodic Simple Transition
Belfast L'Ethique part 2
The Western Wail part 1
L'Ethique part 3
The Western Wail part 2
L'Ethique part 4
Southbound

(Southbound is a pretty violent live recorded bonus track featuring Pinhas on
wailing Frippian guitar, Auger on massive percussion and Gauthier on
Minimoog. Previously released on the 1983 sampler double LP RICHARD
PINHAS/HELDON: PERSPECTIVE)

A perfect blend of instrumental rock and electronics played by virtuoso jazz
musicians. L'Ethique, Richard's musical rendition of Spinoza's philosophy, is
rightfuly recognized as a masterpiece. Should you consider buying only one
Pinhas album, then please seriously consider this one.

RICHARD PINHAS: D.W.W. (CUNEIFORM RUNE 40)

first CD release, 1992
(Richard Pinhas, Jean-Philippe Goude, Patrick Gauthier, Bernard Paganotti,
Alain Bellaiche, The Paris Opera String Quartet)

1992:Iceland:intro
Ubik
The Joe Chip Song (quartet-part 1)
A Piece called Lulu (The loo)
The Joe Chip Song (quartet-part 2)
Ballade pour Frederic Magnus
The Joe Chip Song (quartet-part 3)
1992:Iceland:The Fall
The Joe Chip Song (quartet-part 4)
Iceland:The Fall:coda

The music was composed and recorded between 1983 and 1991. An early
piano version of The Joe Chip Song was included on the vinyl bootleg
album HELDON:THE ELECTRONIC GUERILLAS.
This is the big come-back of Richard Pinhas after a nine year retreat from the
musicbusiness. With the exception of Ubik which reminds strongly of
L'Ethique  and the re-exploration of some themes from Iceland, the album is
pretty different from the earlier work. It's more accessible and presents
Richards efforts to compose a kind of  string-quart
et chamber music.

Works not (yet) available on CD:

HELDON 4:AGNETA NILSSON

first LP release: 1976
URUS 000011, AURAL EXPLORER AE 5001
(Richard Pinhas, Coco Roussel, Alain Bellaiche, Patrick Gauthier, Phil Rossi,
Michel Ettori, Daniel Prevost)

Perspective I (Ou comment procEde le Nihilisme Actif)
Perspective II
Perspective III (Baader-Meinhof Blues)
Intermede & Bassong
Perspective IV

A very cold, raw album with dooming electronic pulsations. Most tracks
contain neurotic improvisations. At the time this is written (summer-fall '92)
it looks like this album won't be reissued since Richard can't find the original
tapes buried somewhere under a pile of tape-reel archives.

HELDON:THE ELECTRONIC GUERILLAS (Bootleg LP CX62575,first
appearance in 1988)
This album got its title from the English translation of the first Heldon. It ha
a dark green cover with a xeroxed picture of Richard Pinhas (from the
Perspective cover) and a red stamp with the copy number.  The labels are
white. According to the cover only 100 lp's would have been released, but
there are a surprising lot of people owning a copy.

The album contains an early live recording with RP playing a lot of bluesy
stuf and Hendrixian rock alternating with electronics from the first albums.
There's also an early studioversion of The Joe Chip Song. The sound quality
is not too bad (for a bootleg anyway).
It's price at auxion will easily get as high as 80 bucks but it's a real treat f
the Heldon-collector.

Richard Pinhas/Heldon:Perspective

first LP release: 1983
WEA 240303-1

L'Ethique
Premiere Variation
Greenland
Interface (part one) (*)
Interface (part two) (*)
Southbound (*)
Marie Virginie C. (*)
Iceland (part 1+2)
Deuxieme Variation
Dedicated to K.C.
The Western Wail (part one)
Les Soucoupes Volantes
Rhizosphere

The Western Wail (part two)
A double album compilation containing half of L'Ethique and excerpts from
Iceland,Chronolyse,Interface and Rhizosphere.
It also contains previously unreleased live material recorded at Le Palace de
Paris in 1977 (marked above with an asterisk). See also the remark under
L'Ethique.

There are some other releases by RP solo or with Heldon and Schizo (his
first group), including a few singles:

Perspective complement - Heldon(1974 URUS 000102)
Soutien a la R.A.F. - Heldon(1976 DISJUNCTA 101)
Telstar (!) under the pseudonym T.H.X. (1978 COBRA COB 47008) West
Side/Houston 69 -RP(1980 PULSE S001)
Beautiful May/West Side -RP(1980 CBS Promo 117)

He contributed to some solo albums of his friends (J-P. Goude: Drones,
Georges Grunblatt: K-Priss, Patrick Gauthier: Bebe Godzilla, Lard Free: I'm
Around about Midnight, Herve Picard as Ose: Adonia,Fluence:
Fluence,Odeurs, ... ) and also produced a few albums (Videolizst Ektakrom
Killer,...). Most (all?) of these albums are deleted.

There are a few concert-tapes going round as well.

Useful Addresses (magazines and record companies):

        KLEM (in Dutch):        Stichting KLEM
                                Amstelsingel 7
                                4105 GZ Culemborg
                                The Netherlands

        Crystal Infos (in French):      Crystal Lake
                                        B.P. 177
                                        75224  Paris Cedex 05
                                        France

        Audion (in English):    Ultima Thule
                                1 Conduit Street
                                Leicester LE2 OJN
                                U.K.

        Spalax Records: Somewhere in Paris, France.
                (I said useful, I didn't mention accurate,
                 OK?)

        Cuneiform Records:      Wayside Music
                                P.O. Box 8427
                                Silver Spring
                                MD 20907-8427
                                U.S.A.

Lots of thanks to Richard Pinhas,Danny Hendricks,Jan Tack, Marco Hinic
and Henri Hanot.
Very special thanks to Jan (let's boogie) Doumen for his enthusiasm and for
dropping all of this on the E-mail network !

        Serge Devadder -        Ch. Woestelaan 140 b 12
                                1090 Brussel
                                Belgium

--
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| Doumen Jan                                Voice : 32 2 3590209              |
| Vrije Universiteit Brussel                Fax   : 32 2 3590390              |
| Instituut Voor Moleculaire Biologie                                         |
| Department For Ultra-structure                                              |
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