Jean-Pierre Mirouze - Le Mariage Collectif [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (1971/2012)

As a film, Le Mariage Collectif will probably not be remembered by history, a fact even admitted by the press release for its soundtrack. As a soundtrack, however, Le Mariage Collectif should go down as something of a minor classic. The story behind the recovery of the album is noteworthy by itself: the music, long forgotten, had been preserved through only a handful of acetate copies, one of which was recovered in a Paris garbage dump in 2010. The mouths of record collectors have probably begun watering from that description alone, but fortunately the score by Jean-Pierre Mirouze is a rightfully resurrected gem.

Those who loved David Holmes’ scores for Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy will find much to love here, especially in the liberal usage of Hammonds and Fender Rhodes. The mood here is all psychedelic cool, although there are plenty of lovely moments throughout: “Tivoli Garden” and “Karin on the Ryke” are two such tranquil interludes. But the defining track of Le Mariage Collectif is “Sexopolis”, the swanky, organ-heavy jam that captures the true essence of the soundtrack. For fans of psychedelic rock, intriguing film music, or an album with a great story behind it, this is a must-own.