RAGNAR GRIPPE – Sand (Shandar, 1977)

Instrumental
International relevance: ***

Ragnar Grippe was originally a EAM composer who studied for musique concrète pioneer Pierre Schaeffer in Paris in the early 70's, and also recorded some works in Luc Ferrari's electronic music studio that was released on ”Electronic Compositions” on Swedish classical label BIS in 1977 along with other earlier works. It is however his other 1977 album that gained most recognition over the years (and the only one to fit this blog), ”Sand”, released on Shandar, a French imprint made legendary by a back catalogue including Gong affiliate Dashiell Hedayat, Pandit Pran Nath, Steve Reich, Karlheinz Stockhausen and several free jazz illuminaries such as Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Albert Ayler and François Tusques.

The reputation of ”Sand”, inspired by the abstract art of Indian artist Paris Viswanathan, has grown with time, and it's easy to see it's appeal to fans of the kosmisch side of krautrock à la the Roedelius/Moebius camp, Ralf & Florian, and Tangerine Dream circa ”Phaedra”. It certainly fits in with that lot yet never quite sounds like any of it. Heavily echoed electronic sounds hover above a simple and persistent rhythm before it evaporates into distant remnants thick with delay. Never dense but transparent almost simplistic, it holds a certain charm. Not on par with the German stuff, but if you aren't used to more ambitious electro-acoustic music that can be quite rough on the unaccustomed ear, this would still be an easy and inviting listen. It should be pointed out though, that both parts are a bit overlong at 25 minutes each. They could have been shortened a bit without losing essence.

"Sand" is the only Grippe album that fits here, and his later activities are pretty puzzling. After "Sand", he recorded a new wavish disco (!!!) album in 1980 entitled "Lost Secrets", showing no resemblance whatsoever to his previous work. What was his ambition? To become a Swedish low-calorie Giorgio Moroder? Even later, he turned to soundtrack composing, making music for plenty of Swedish movies including blockbuster movie "Jönssonligan".

Full album