For the first time on vinyl a collection of tracks by Cortex, Alain Neffe (Bene Gesserit, Insane Music) experimental spoken-word project originally released on tape in 1984. Cortex was never intended to be a conventional musical project. From the very beginning it was centered around free live performances. These encounters were stripped down and highly visual: Alain Neffe constructed a trapezoidal fluorescent white screen lit by black light. 

The narrator—la récitante—was only illuminated in the face, while the rest of the stage remained in complete darkness. This created a ghostly effect where the audience could see only her glowing face and dark silhouette. She was a beautiful young woman, with a striking presence, and beside her, Alain Neffe played synthesizer and created sonic effects. The aim of Cortex was to deliver a minimalist and emotional experience, one centered on text and the voice of the narrator. 

Most of the tracks that exist today were recorded informally during rehearsals, using two microphones placed in front of Marshall amps, captured directly to cassette. La récitante could choose a text from a collection of hundreds. Then, the music was improvised in real time around her voice. That process, simple, direct, and instinctive produced a body of work that’s rough around the edges, but full of presence. It’s not polished, but that’s the point. Cortex was focused entirely on the connection between voice and sound.