Monica Lassen & The Sounds - La Jouissance (1971) [Nippon Columbia / Lawson Japan]

Format: LP with obi, Japanese pressing.
Long-awaited analog reissue of Monica Lassen's rare and masterful Jazz-funk from 1971, 'La Jouissance'.

A totally wonderful little record, as sexy as you'd imagine from the cover, and one that also holds some of those groovy French elements the title suggests! The whole thing has a seductive, erotic vibe that almost recalls Serge Gainsbourg – except that most of the tracks are instrumental, and Monica Lassen seems to be mainly there to moan, laugh, and express pleasure throughout the record – a bit like the presence of a woman on a sexy French record from the late 60s. The music is very appealing too – moving in a space between late 60s European soundtrack styles and bossa nova, with lots of cool organ lines, soulful saxophone, compelling rhythms, and interesting effects that further accent the record's sound – on tracks that include “Dalliance In Wave”, “On Rollin Yacht”, “A Lodge Of Joy”, “Embrace Ment”, “Path For Two”, and “Che Vuole Quesat Musica Stasere”.