[CP 199.22 CD] Art + Technique; Complete Hi-Tec Recordings

June 2025; Overjoyed to (finally!) see this one in the "Vetoes" program (one of my own nominations for a change; the cabal had feelings about this one) covering the complete output of the French recording act Art + Technique across 4 releases (two LPs: "Clima-X"; AT-01, 1981 & the incredible "Diabolus In Mecanica"; AT-03, 1982 & two EPs: "Putsch In Memoriam"; AT-02, 1981 & "Alea Jacta Est"; AT-04, 1983-84) by Bernard Filipetti's revolving-cast ensemble, active for but a brief window in the early 80s.

Often fêted as "Minimal-Synth" classics, I've long found these records as a clear continuum from the exact sort of "One Man Against The World (With Synths)" energies found on such canonic C.P. fodder as Nik Pascal's Narco run ([CP 079.5-080-081 CD]), "Conrad & Sohn" ([CP 005 CD]; particularly the "Let's Run the Vocals through the Synth" energy, the similarities are uncanny!) & the like. There's only the faintest trace(s) of "Songs" (lyrics are largely mumbled and/or mono-toned in a mix of French & Invented tongues) which leaves the lingering Drum Machine drift & clearcut Electronic Malaise their due space to traverse the planes. 

Two hours of impeccable, inscrutable Electronic Music; this one comes as two discs housed inside the six-panel layout, replete with a facsimile of the Hi-Tec vellum insert found in copies of "Alea!" Vor fans of the Bernard Bonnier ([CP 049 CD]), Philippe Doray ([CP 215 CD]), & Fizzé/Dizzi ([CP 199.16 CD)] titles!