'Ornate' and 'eccentric' are fairly accurate descriptions of most late '60s French pop, especially Serge - once you listen to him for the first time, your entire pre-Serge record collection will feel like photocopies. In terms of influence, his music is almost as ubiquitous as The Beatles. Just as brilliant, too.

I intend to post clips of lots more equally wonderful French pop (a lot of which involves varying degrees of Serge).

[ps Peejay: if by chance you originally tried to post a comment on my blog but found the comments box missing, I think it was because I was fiddling. It's back now. I'm not a techie, as Eoghan will testify)