Yan d'Ys, Francis Personne, Ode Ronronnière, Serge D'Usson – Philopsis (LP)
Label: Diggersdigest
Released: RE 2019
Country: France
Genre: Funk/Soul/Jazz Funk
Doing what they do best Diggersdigest have recently reissued Philopsis, a landmark library music record released on French label Freesound in 1975. Despite its classical artwork the record is strewn with all the sonic hallmarks of the 1970s. The albums mysterious mastermind Jacky Giordano (a session musician and library music legend) is responsible for Philopsis’ signature jazz-funk riffs. Giordano's riffs could conceivably soundtrack a stereotypically 70s cop drama starring Tom Selleck; that is until you consider the slightly surreal moog synthesiser compositions which sound more Mort Garson than Magnum PI. The influence of Plantasia released only two years prior is particularly apparent on the track ‘Athanor’. Philopsis has, like Plantasia, attained cult status among library music collectors during the last two decades and Diggersdigest’s reissue offers a rare opportunity to find out why.