DARRAS & DESUMEUR - TEMPS (1975)
NOTE
After the first bunch of the unofficial David Bash Top 25 collection, and while working on the next ones, here's a little time-out post with a forgotten and overlooked french pop duo. The album flopped even though it received some rave reviews in french rock papers and got some radio airplay at the time of its release.
ALBUM
Daniel Darras (keyboardist/singer) and Jean-Louis Desumeur (guitarist/bassist/singer) were both members of the short-lived French rock band "Présence" at the beginning of the 70's. After "Présence" disbanded in 1973 both members decided to pursue their career on as a duo. Inspired both by the music of The Beatles, Wings, CSN & Y they recorded their debut "Temps" in 1975. It was only released in France and Canada on RCA Victor in a gatefold textured sleeve. They were helped by another member of Présence, Alain Crepin (guitar), while the drums were handled by André Sitbon. with a little help from some famous French guests. It has never been reissued on CD or any other format. The duo released a second album (more folky than pop) in 1979.
"Temps" is really an hidden gem of French pop, highlighted by some great keyboard/synths parts (a la Wings) and the guitar work, representitive of the French duo. It is an album filled with excellent French vocal harmonies, not so far from the Beatles (for instance the song "Les Diamants de Lucy" song quotes many characters from the Fab Four songs, Wings (Red Rose Speedway/Band On The Run) and CSN &Y.