Wicked work from a lesser-known talent on the French soundtrack scene of the 70s -- but one with a great ear for subtle funky touches!
Karl Heinz Schafer got his start working on earlier scores with Michel Magne -- and in a way, there's a feel here that's a bit like Magne's best -- that subtle, supple approach to soundtrack funk that often mixes elements of jazz with a harder undercurrent on the bottom! But there's also a groove here that's definitely
Karl's own -- a feel that's almost like French sound library work of the period -- with some darker corners at times that really make for a complexity in the music -- as straighter jazz passages merge with more imagistic moments. Instrumentation here includes keyboards, vibes, guitar, sitar, and some nicely compressed electric bass -- plus fuller strings that bring in a slight sense of drama at the best moments -- giving the work some touches of Jean-Claude Vannier's best as well. Titles include "La Victime", "Kidnapping", "Les Gants Blancs", "Couleurs", "Karajan", "Suivi", "L'Accuponcture", "Utopia", "La Valise", and "Accroc".