“H” Friend
Song by Black Devil Disco Club
"Black Devil," often named "Black Devil Disco Club," is a project by French synth pioneer Bernard Fevre initially founded with Jacky Giordano. From the early '70s, Bernard has been releasing all kinds of experimental electronic music. His extraordinary skills in sound design and taste in sound synthesis made him stand out as a unique artist among other french synth pioneers of that era.
Their first album was released in 1978 on the label RCA, and it was titled "Disco Club." The sound on the album is so unique, and it represented Disco music with a fresh approach.
"Disco Club" was groundbreaking; it is an extremely rare disco masterpiece, an epic journey into the deepest electronic Disco, colored with haunting vocals, twisted yet melodic electronics.
"Disco Club" is precisely what the genre needed to emerge and evolve through the years.
The whole ep is a continuous story, influenced by "From Here to Eternity" by Giorgio Moroder, released the year before. Disco Club is a piece with a different approach and fresh ideas with an impressive sound design. It is a hypnotic and masterfully produced album that influenced many artists in the later years. The opening track - "H" Friend - reveals the magic that happened in the recording studio in the suburbs of Paris using synths, tape loops, and a drummer.
It significantly impacted many artists of the early 80's Italo Disco and Euro Disco, who emerged on the scene.
In 1978 the album had three issues on RCA and Italian label OUT. It didn't have a commercial success as a release until 2004 when it was issued on Rephlex, a label run by Richard D. James, aka Aphex Twin.
With this reissue by one of the most influential electronic music artists, a rare gem, "Disco Club," could be discovered by the new generation of musicians and Disco enthusiasts. There was also a 2015 issue with remixes of "H" Friend released on the label "Alter K."
Artists from Europe blended this sound into a wide range of styles, and the fusions of this haunted, twisted Disco are now the most appreciated sounds in underground nightclubs.
The influence of Bernard can be heard in dozen of releases nowadays. He created a Disco sound that doesn't need to be cheesy but rather spooky, dark, and otherworldly.
Bernard Fevre, aka Black Devil Disco Club, is still working as a music producer, and he is still touring worldwide in the clubs and festivals.
His music inspired many and has been sampled by some major artists like Chemical Brothers.
Disco Club is a perfect start to discover the authentic sound of Bernard Fevre.