After releasing on CD René la Canne, Le Bon Plaisir and Descente aux Enfers, Music Box Records explores a new chapter in the career of Francis Girod, releasing the two original motion picture soundtracks composed by Pierre Jansen for this director. L’État Sauvage (1978) adapted from the novel of the same name by Georges Conchon (winner of the 1964 Prix Goncourt) deals with the initial period after decolonization of a fictional African state, centring on the tormented and chaotic destinies of five main characters. Le Grand Frère (1983), a revamp set in Africa and Marseille of Sam Ross’s novel Ready for the Tiger (translated as part of the Série Noire collection), allows, through the conduit of a seedy story of revenge, for the head on tackling of a number of social problems, not least among which features the integration of the first generation of French of North African descent.
Pierre Jansen recalls his two exigent collaborations with Francis Girod: “L’État Sauvage deliberately avoided any musical reference to Africa as it was my intent to avoid at all costs producing an illustrated postcard in sound. To resurrect the harsh savagery of racism – and even of the types of racism denounced in the film to the point where the viewer is led to wonder who it is exactly who is the savage! – I opted for a Westernized, jerkily rhythmic and dissonant score, which can be heard right from the main title, which is particularly jarring.”
Pierre Jansen recalls his two exigent collaborations with Francis Girod: “L’État Sauvage deliberately avoided any musical reference to Africa as it was my intent to avoid at all costs producing an illustrated postcard in sound. To resurrect the harsh savagery of racism – and even of the types of racism denounced in the film to the point where the viewer is led to wonder who it is exactly who is the savage! – I opted for a Westernized, jerkily rhythmic and dissonant score, which can be heard right from the main title, which is particularly jarring.”

Music Box Records, in collaboration with Gruppo Sugar and EMI Music Publishing, presents both scores for the first time on CD and transferred from the original stereo master tapes. The limited edition of 500 copies comes with an 8-page booklet with French and English commentary by Laurent Perret and an interview with Pierre Jansen.
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