8/10
Limited-edition LP marks 50th year of French space-rock debut.
HIS name may not resonate as widely as those of Germany’s kosmische luminaries, but Richard Pinhas is now acknowledged as asignificant player on the European electronic-rock scene of the 1970s, through both his solo work and with his band, Heldon. Named after the republic in Norman Spinrad’s bizarre, science fantasy/metafiction work The Iron Dream, the group have always been essentially asolo project with changing guest lists. Between 1974–’79 they released eight albums, before Pinhas was plunged deep into depression in 1983 and all but disappeared for adecade. However, 1992 marked the start of an intensely prolific and ongoing creative streak, featuring many recordings under his own name as well as collaborations with later generations of experimental musicians, including Merzbow, Wolf Eyes, Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O’Malley and Ruins’ Yoshida Tatsuya. Now 72, Pinhas is still recording and playing live; just 18 months ago, Heldon released anew album.