Space -

Space was a French electro/space-funk band that released four albums between 1977 and 1980 on Vogue.

Members: Didier Marouani [aka “Ecama”] (synthesizers, 1977-79, 1982-present), Roland Romanelli (synthesizers, 1977-80), Joe Hammer (drums, percussion, 1977-78), Cissy Stone (vocals, 1980), Jannik Top [aka Yannick Top] (bass, 1980), Patrice Tison (guitar, 1980)

Background

Space formed in France in 1977 when Monaco-born composer-keyboardist Didier Marouani built an electro/space-funk studio group with keyboardist-arranger Roland Romanelli and synthesist Jannick Top around “Magic Fly,” a theme first written for an unaired astrology television program.

Marouani studied piano and theory in Monaco from childhood. He moved to Paris at fifteen for conservatory study, then cut solo records before opening dates for Johnny Hallyday, Claude François, and Joe Dassin. Romanelli moved to Paris in 1966 and worked as stage accordionist for singer Barbara from 1966 to 1986. Top hailed from Marseille and played electric bass and cello before his early-seventies work with Magma.

Producer Jean-Philippe Iliesco asked Marouani to compose the astrology-show theme, then reshaped the cancelled-program demo into an uptempo electronic record after Polydor declined it under Marouani’s name. Marouani used the pseudonym Ecama because his solo contract still tied him to Polydor. The group wore helmeted costumes during promotion to keep Marouani’s face off the record campaign. Iliesco secured a Vogue release through label head Léon Cabat, and Vogue booked recording time at its Villetaneuse studio. American session drummer Joe Hammer, then based in Paris, added the metronomic drum track for “Magic Fly” after prior sessions with Iliesco and Romanelli.

Space recorded a full album with participation from UK-based American soul-pop singer Madeline Bell, who scored prior hits with Blue Mink.

Magic Fly

Space released their debut studio album, Magic Fly, in April 1977 on Disques Vogue.

Magic Fly presents a mostly instrumental synth-disco program built on keyboard themes, sustained pads, and a steady four-beat frame. Marouani wrote all seven tracks under the Ecama credit. The album uses the founding Space lineup with Romanelli, Top, and Hammer, with Bell singing lead on “Carry On, Turn Me On.”

“Fasten Seat Belt” snaps through marked beat-work and ends with an enlarged final break. “Tango in Space” coils around a minor-key theme, flanged percussion, and a percussive bridge. “Flying Nightmare” plants piano chords under a dreamier refrain before late harmonies thicken the ending.

“Magic Fly” pulses through measured electronic figures, vaporous pads, and wordless choral haze. “Ballad for Space Lovers” glides through softened, compact refrain material. “Velvet Rape” lingers in ballad register with a smoother keyboard-led surface. “Carry On, Turn Me On” sways under Madeline Bell’s breath-placed vocal phrases while the arrangement favors harmonic wash and repeating percussion.

A1. “Fasten Seat Belt” (5:58)
A2. “Ballad for Space Lovers” (2:16)
A3. “Tango In Space” (4:28)
A4. “Flying Nightmare” (3:31)

B1. “Magic Fly” (4:18)
B2. “Velvet Rape” (4:27)
B3. “Carry On, Turn Me On” (8:18)

Space recorded Magic Fly in 1976 at Studio Sydney Bechet in Paris with producer Jean-Philippe Iliesco and recording/mixing engineer Patrick Fraigneau.

Vogue lifted “Magic Fly” as a June 1977 French single (b/w “Ballad For Space Lovers”). Pye International issued the single in the UK the following month, where it reached No. 2 on the Official Singles Chart. Vogue followed with “Tango In Space” (b/w “Carry On, Turn Me On”).

Magic Fly reached No. 11 on the Official Albums Chart. Along with singles by Donna Summer (“I Feel Love”) and Jean Michel Jarre (“Oxygène”), “Magic Fly” popularized the use of electronic instruments in dance music and presaged future developments in synthpop and electronica.

Deliverance

Space released their second studio album, Deliverance, in December 1977 on Vogue.

Deliverance extends the keyboard-led format into six long-form pieces. Marouani wrote the six compositions, with Paul Greedus sharing lyric credit on “Prison” and “Deliverance”. The sessions retain Romanelli and Hammer from Magic Fly, add percussionist Ray Cooper, and give Bell lead vocals on “Prison” and “Deliverance.”

“Prison” strides from a minor-key theme into a major refrain enlarged by chorus lines. “Let Me Know the Wonder” glides through electronic strings, piano chords, and extended ballad phrasing. “Running in the City” presses compact electronic figures against a tightened beat pattern.

“Air Force” lifts the same compressed single-form profile into faster instrumental motion. “Baby’s Paradise” stretches the central ballad tone through softened chords and glossy electronic sustain. “Deliverance” answers Madeline Bell’s lead with chorus replies and surges toward a larger closing rise.

A1. “Prison” (6:25) – Marouani, Greedus
A2. “Let Me Know The Wonder” (7:10) – Marouani
A3. “Running In the City” (4:17) – Marouani

B1. “Air Force” (4:30) – Marouani
B2. “Baby’s Paradise” (5:38) – Marouani
B3. “Deliverance” (6:45) – Marouani, Greedus

Space recorded and remixed Deliverance at Studio Sydney Bechet in Paris. The group cut additional material at Pye Studios in London. Jean-Philippe Iliesco produced the album with recording/remix engineer Patrick Fraigneau.

Hipgnosis designed and photographed the gatefold sleeve. The cover shows a nude female figure above a desert rock formation. Franck Marouani shot the inside photographs.

Vogue lifted “Running In the City” as a French single (b/w “Air Force”). Pye International issued the same pairing in the UK on February 24, 1978. In 1978, Vogue followed with “Deliverance” (b/w “Prison”).

Just Blue

Space released their third studio album, Just Blue, in 1978 on Vogue P.I.P.

Just Blue extends the group’s keyboard-led disco format across four instrumentals and three vocal tracks. Marouani composed all seven tracks, with Avril Giacobbi writing the lyric for “Save Your Love for Me” and Paul Greedus sharing the lyric for “My Love Is Music”. Romanelli shares the arrangement credit with Marouani. Bell sings the two vocal titles, and Cooper adds percussion.

“Just Blue” glides on a softened electronic throb, with reverb-loaded low synth and a weighted refrain. “Final Signal” races a processed fretless-bass pattern through a tight motor pulse and wide-panned keyboard figures. “Secret Dreams” shifts from bright bell figures and clashing synth tones into a guitar-led break. “Symphony” lifts multi-voice choruses with vocodered title replies, then drops to a tick-tock middle passage before strings enlarge the return.

“Save Your Love for Me” places Madeline Bell’s lead above buoyant chorus replies. “Blue Tears” drifts through deep synthesizer tone and slow-cadence ballad phrasing. “My Love Is Music” strides behind Bell’s lead with brisk vocal replies and a firmer dance-band finish.

A1. “Just Blue” (4:40)
A2. “Final Signal” (4:25)
A3. “Secret Dreams” (4:43)
A4. “Symphony” (4:53)

B1. “Save Your Love for Me” (6:42)
B2. “Blue Tears” (5:38)
B3. “My Love Is Music” (6:43)

Space recorded Just Blue at Studio Sydney Bechet in Paris. Iliesco produced and mixed the album. Fraigneau engineered the sessions and shared the mix credit.

Shusei Nagaoka illustrated the cover package under art direction by Henry Vizcarra/Gribbitt. B. Monié designed the inner sleeve. Sun 7 Studio shot the photographs.

Vogue lifted “Just Blue” as a 1978 French single (b/w “Secret Dreams”) and “Save Your Love for Me” as a 1978 single (b/w “Symphony”). The label followed in 1979 with “My Love Is Music” (b/w “Final Signal”). Casablanca’s US issue of “My Love Is Music” reached No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 59 on the Billboard Dance chart.

Deeper Zone

Space released their fourth studio album, Deeper Zone, in 1980 on Vogue.

Deeper Zone continued with Romanelli and Top after Marouani left the band. The original LP contains six tracks built from keyboard themes, bass figures, and vocal passages. Top and Romanelli co-wrote “Deeper Zone” and “Inner Voices”. Romanelli wrote “Space Media” and shared “On the Air” with Top and J.S. Bach. Gary Brown wrote “Mixed Up”; Peter Jones shared “Love Starring You and Me” with Romanelli. Singer Cissy Stone and guitarist Patrice Tison join bassist Top and drummer Hammer.

“Deeper Zone” opens on a broad slow theme, then surges into a quicker central passage with sharpened guitar figures. “Inner Voices” coils around an off-center dance pattern and a polished repeating figure. “Space Media” glides through faux-baroque turns and airy synth figures.

“Mixed Up” presses Cissy Stone’s lead against an insistent leitmotif and clipped chorus replies. “On the Air” lifts a Bach-derived theme into bright electronic lead lines, with a separate verse strain before the reprise. “Love Starring You and Me” grinds through dry-edged piano accents and close vocal placement.

A1. “Deeper Zone” (7:14) – Top, Romanelli
A2. “Inner Voices” (6:53) – Top, Romanelli
A3. “Space Media” (3:30) – Romanelli

B1. “Mixed Up” (5:56) – Brown
B2. “On the Air” (5:23) – Bach, Top, Romanelli
B3. “Love Starring You and Me” (5:37) – Jones, Romanelli

Space recorded and mixed Deeper Zone at Studio Sydney Bechet in Paris with producer Iliesco and engineer Fraigneau. B. Monié handled the cover concept and illustration.

In 1979, Vogue issued “On the Air” as a French single (b/w “Love Starring You and Me”). Vogue followed in 1980 with “Inner Voices” (b/w “Mixed Up”).

Discography: