Schizo / Paraphrenia Praecox [LP]

Schizo was a French heavy rock band that formed in 1972, and served as a precursor to renowned pioneers in experimental rock, Heldon. Schizo's lineup included Richard Pinhas (guitar and synth), Pierrot Roussel (bass), Patrick Gauthier (synth), Coco Roussel (drums), and Olivier Pamela (vocals). Though short-lived, the group's recordings captured a boundary-pushing sound that set the stage for Pinhas' later innovations. Their debut single, "Schizo (And The Little Girl)" b/w "Paraphrenia Praecox," was released on the SFP record label. Both tracks showcase a grinding post-psychedelic sound-infusing overdriven guitars, relentless wah-wah and dissonant, trippy electronic soundscapes. With a cosmic energy and proto-punk grit, Schizo's music was both abrasive and hypnotic. The follow-up single, released on Pinhas' Disjuncta label, marked the end of the band's brief run. Schizo's music on "the yellow" single diverge sharply with the later, more intricate textures of Heldon-instead reveling in a heavy, primal energy. Their raw experimentation is a vital entry in the history of French underground rock music.