Theatre du Chene Noir
Founded in Avignon during 1966 by Gérard Gelas, Théâtre du Chêne Noir d'Avignon - which continues to this day - is a remarkable product of the post-war joining of multidisciplinary creativity and radical left-wing politics. Loosely aligned with an anarchic philosophy, during the late '60s they took part in numerous forms of protest through performance, with their efforts being banned by the French Government at a regular pace.
While, over the years, the group has become more closely aligned with a traditional form of theatre, staging the works of Mishima , Molière, Brecht, Musset, and dozen of others - helping launch the careers of many of the country’s most notable actors - during the 1970s they made an astounding leap into avant-garde and experimental music, two of the artifacts of which, at long last, return to us now via Souffle Continu.
Conceived as a special Record Store release before the world went to hell, the second instalment of Souffle Continu’s dedicated focus on Le Théâtre du Chêne Noir rests on their incredibly rare single, Miss Madona, originally issued by the tiny Avignon based imprint, Studio 35, in 1973. Their second recorded outing, like its predecessor, Aurora, Miss Madona captures one of the project’s visionary performance, blurring the lines between theatre and music.
The single is comprised of three sound extracts, formed into the tracks, featuring Daniel Dublet on piano and electric organ, Pierre Surtel and Jean-Louis Canaud on sax, and Gilbert Say on trumpet, as well as the vocals of Beatrice Le Thierry, Bénédicte Maulet, Jean Paul Chazalon, Monik Lamy, and Nicole Aubiat. The EP takes a remarkably different path, showing the adaptability that operated as the group’s guiding force, offering insight into their inclusion on Steven Stapleton’s legendar Nurse With Wound List.
Moody, sorrowful, and soulful, Miss Madona’s 3 tracks venture away from the boiling and diverse avant-gardism encountered on Aurora, in favour of a more direct relationship with balladic jazz. Peppered touchstones ranging from John Coltrane and Pierre Henry, to the Art Ensemble of Chicago and gospel, it’s a fascinating, almost ritualistic journey, led by emotion and heart.
A rarely heard and sinfully uncelebrated artifact of the 1970s French underground and creative counterculture, no one should be without Miss Madona. Fully licensed and remastered from the original tapes, as ever Souffle Continu has done it again! Grab it fast. It’s not going to sit around for long.
