VA - Archipelago: Cosmic Fusion Gems from France (1978-1988) (2025) (Hi-Res)

Isle of Jura presents ‘Archipelago – Cosmic Fusion Gems from France (1978–1988)’, a deep dive into overlooked corners of the French musical landscape, compiled by French digger and DJ Arnaud Simetiére aka Switch Groove. Drawn from years of early-morning flea market hunts and second-hand record store hauls, Archipelago unearths a hidden layer of French music that maps an alternate France including music from Francis Bebey, Cécilia Angeles, Carla Music Orchestra and a Dub remix from Dennis Bovell.

From the French Caribbean to the outer suburbs of Paris during the ‘Sono Mondiale’ era, these tracks capture a time when musicians embraced new freedoms and electronic tools—synthesizers, drum machines, home studios—to create boundary-blurring, genre-defying music. The result is a cosmic, hybrid sound that’s both distinctly French and radically global.

“These records shaped a new map of French music for me,” explains Switch Groove. “They’re treasures that emerged not from the mainstream, but from the crates—lost in plain sight, waiting to be found.” Archipelago is an invitation to explore that map: a crate-digger’s dreamscape of fusion, funk, and far-out frequencies from 1978 to 1988. The album also includes two Ambient soundscape tools.

Production and Co-licensing by Kevin Griffiths. Pressed on 180g Heavyweight Vinyl with full sleeve jacket design by Bradley Pinkerton.

Tracklist
1. Patrick Bernard – Intérieurs 02:26
2. Cécilia Angeles – Climax (Our First Day Of Love / It's A Love Day) 11:08
3. Carla Music Orchestra – To Meet With Bond 03:36
4. Rémy Boussengui – Coco Lando 04:07
5. Archipelago – Soundscapes Part 01 02:21
6. Francisco Et Son Orchestre – Caté Rété 03:36
7. Francis Bebey – Crocodile Crocodile Crocodile 04:02
8. Michel Lorentz – Zantye An Metro 03:54
9. Egide Sadey – High Emotion 05:00
10. Princess Erika – Trop De Bla Bla (Dub Version) 04:24
11. Archipelago – Soundscapes Part 02 02:21