Space Art is a French
electronic music
Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...
duo consisting of Dominique Perrier on keyboards and late French drummer Roger "Bunny" Rizzitelli. The band had its main commercial success between 1977 and 1981.
History
Formation
In 1974, Dominique Perrier had been working as an
arranger
In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orches ...
with
Christophe, for whom Roger "Bunny" Rizzitelli had been drumming. Christophe brought an
ARP Odyssey
The ARP Odyssey is an analog synthesizer introduced by ARP Instruments in 1972.
History
ARP developed the Odyssey as a direct competitor to the Moog Minimoog and an answer to the demand for more affordable, portable, and less complicated "perf ...
synthesizer, which was used mainly as a
metronome, into the studio. Christophe then lent the synthesizer to Perrier for two years, during which time the band was born.
According to Perrier, he originally preferred to name the band Moon but, after a trip to a funfair, Rizzitelli suggested an alternative; one of the fair attractions had been named after
Spessart, the German mountain range. This then morphed into Space Art, which sounded better to them both.
Career
They released three albums between 1977 and 1980, selling three million units worldwide and achieving number one status in France.
All three albums were recorded at in Paris.
Their music is often described as cosmic
synth pop. The duo are considered pioneers of the
French electronic music
French electronic music is a panorama of French music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production.
Notable early French artists and composers in electronic music include Maurice Martenot, the inven ...
genre. In 1981, they supported
Jean-Michel Jarre during his
''Concerts in China'' tour, thereby becoming among the first Western musicians to perform in China during
Chinese economic reform; Perrier later played keyboards on various Jarre albums, for the band and also for
Gipsy Kings.
Following the death of Roger Rizzitelli, his son Tommy joined the group as the drummer.
A tribute record was released in 2012 by Perrier and his new band, remaking some Space Art tracks.
Discography
Singles:
*"Onyx": 1977, IF Records
*"Speedway": 1978, Carrère
*"Nous savons tout": 1978, Carrère
*"Symphonix": 1981, Carrère
Albums:
* ''Space Art'' (''Onyx''): 1977, IF Records #CA631-67173
* ''Trip In The Center Head'': 1979, IF Records #CA631-67213
* ''Play Back'' (''3''): 1980, Waves Records #CA651-67575
* ''On Ne Dira Rien - Best Of All Times'': 2016, Because Music (
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
)
Re-releases:
* ''Space Art'' (''Onyx''): 1998,
Spalax
* ''Trip In The Center Head'': 1997, Spalax
* ''Space Art'' (''Onyx''): 2009, C.Zen Prod
New albums:
* ''Space Art Tribute - Pype Line'': 2012
* ''Entrevues'': 2020, Deserted Island Music
See also
*
Janet Woollacott, Dominique Perrier's late wife
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Space Art (band)
Electronic music duos
French electronic music groups
French musical duos
Male musical duos
Masked musicians