Nino Ferrer ‎– Métronomie (1971, LP/ CD, France)

In 1971, Nino Ferrer released the album Métronomie. This is a break with his usual known songs from the general public, style Mirza and Oh! Hey! eh! good! 1966 or I sell dresses and The Gherkin in 1969. It was popular songs with derision side. With Métronomie, Nino Ferrer puts his man jazz talents, it was early in the service of a musical experiment in progressive rock.
Nino FERRER meeting in 1971 the guitarist irlandai s Micky Finn, who introduced him to the English rock with prog. The latter went to Paris with his musicians join Nino Ferrer in his independent studio. This album will be one of the consequences.“
In this album there are several popular songs, more or less known and well-orchestrated manner blues and rock, the unconventional titles: Children Of The Motherland (critical of patriotism warrior); Cannabis (social commentary); Isabelle (criticism of conformist education, moral) and then two beautiful songs The House by the Fountain and P our forgetting that one is loved.
But there are also three main instrumentals: Métronomie, Métronomie 2 (see previous article), two very prog rock songs and Freak plus psyche.
The first title track of the album is an instrumental along 9 mn very successful, in which we see the infuence of Pink Floyd.
Despite the quality of the album, the media of the time have obscured. Barclay recording company probably did not bet on it. The prog rock was not "fashionable".
A month after the death of his mother struck by cancer for many years, Nino Ferrer shot himself in the heart in the middle of a field near his home, as he had begun recording with Leggs that he thought was his final album, continuation and end.
This article makes memory to this great musician and singer.

 When Nino Ferrer recorded this album in 1971, “Mirza” and “pickles” are far away. Nino listen to Soft Machine, Caravan, Yes, and all the British bands of the progressive scene. He spends his time at the mansion of Blanat where he composes, writes, takes drugs. On this record, Nino blew the barriers of French song, disappointing at the same time his audience baffled by this shift, the album sold poorly. The time will overcome this misunderstanding: the disc, which was pressed in small quantities, is now cult. It is hard for gold in record stores and on the internet sales platforms. We must now count between 50 and 150 € for a copy of “Métronomie”

-- A metronome oscillating between ecstasy and hallucinations --
The album opens with the music that gave its name to the work, a hallucination of nearly ten minutes. Nino free rein to his imagination and sets the tone of the album, definitely rock and psychedelic. He takes his time and does not hesitate to create different atmospheres, using sound effects and other effects studio at his disposal: reverbs, reverses, flanger, distos … On the second track, “The children of the fatherland”, which was pressed into 45 towers (single format for the time), Nino sings on a foggy music. Heavenly choirs support his deep voice, hovering above the music and plan Nino first. Never silences between songs, transitions are great and keep us in a permanent state of ecstasy.

“Cannabis” climax of the album’s second side opens with the masterpiece of the album, “Cannabis”. The music is brutal, musicians vie for perfection, the body floods us with tablecloths and cosmic jazz phrasing, the bass line continues to evolve and twirls in pregnant … Is Nino plays? I do not know. But he who holds the handle with four strings, he demonstrated genius. The rhythm is wild, alternating games jazz-rock and voodoo drums. In the text, Nino described drugs as an escape to the modern world. It addresses topics that affect us directly: immigration, pollution, underground junk food … Timelessness text reinforces the innovative character of the music. A delight!

Side A
A1. Metronomie (Organum Homo-Modernicus Contre Flying Dutchman Bertha) (9:05)
A2. Les Enfants De La Patrie (4:55)
A3. Metronomie II (2:19)
Side B
B1. Cannabis (4:45)
B2. La Maison Pres De La Fontaine (3:45)
B3. Isabelle (2:28)
B4. Freak (1:28)
B5. Pour Oublier Qu'on S'est Aimés (3:27)

Musicians:
Nino Ferrer: vocals
Giorgio Giombolini: organ
Alan Reeves: keybaords
Slim Pezin: guitar
Lucien Dobat: drums
Donald Rieudon: drums
Jean Mandengué: bass guitar
Sam Kelly: percussion
Pierre Dutour: trumpet
Krapoutchick: backing vocals
Bernard Estardy: hammond organ, piano