Pierre Henry, musique concrete & synth pioneer, RIP

July 6, 2017

Pierre Henry, an early synth pioneer and leader of musique concrète, has died at age 89, the Quietus reports. He is best known, even if you didn’t realize it was him, for 1967’s Les Yper Sound EP which contains groovy instrumental “Psyche Rock” — which 30 years later would be appropriated for the theme to Matt Groening’s Futurama. (Stereolab paid tribute to Henry with their song “Les Yper Sound” on Emperor Tomato Ketchup.) Henry was also the first composer to have a musique concrète work appear in a commercial film, 1952’s Astrologie ou le miroir de la vie.

Rest in peace, Pierre. Your music and influence goes on. Listen to some of Pierre Henry’s work, below

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