Space

Space was founded in 1977 by Didier Marouani. The band consisted of Marouani, arrangers Roland Romanelli and Jannick Top, and singer Madeline Bell. Marouani had some fame as a solo pop singer but soon focused on his band whose name was suggested by the song “Magic Fly”, originally written for a television program dedicated to astrology. Reflecting on the theme of the stars, Marouani composed something both melodious and cosmic, using an ARP Axxe synthesizer. To bring extra energy to this synthetic melody, he added a kick and a snare inspired by the disco beat of the time. Musicians emphasized the sci-fi orientation of their band, often performing in stage costumes like spacesuits. Another reason for being masked as cosmonauts was the contract of Didier Marouani with record company Polydor: nobody could recognize him. Following the worldwide success of the single "Magic Fly", 3 albums were released, laying the foundation for space disco. In 1977, "Magic Fly", blending melodic richness with synthetic innovation, delivered both dancefloor hits and midtempo tracks. The same year, American drummer Joe Hammer joined the band and Space released "Deliverance", a typical 70s concept album reflecting the quest for freedom, ranging from disco to cosmic electronic music. In 1978, the trilogy ended with "Just Blue", a more melancholic album featuring broader orchestrations and complex harmonies. These 3 records sold over 10 million copies worldwide.