(Filter Music/Shock)

For those who think French music is all piano accordions and blokes in robot suits.

French music released in Australia seems to fall into two broad categories: soft nu-jazz with warbling chanteuses and piano accordions (for looking sophisticated at suburban dinner parties) and too-cool-for-school music from the French underground (for consuming substances and dancing like an idiot). Unfortunately, such a broad split means that there’s quite a bit of French music that’s not given much time in Australia – from traditional jazz, chanson, and folk to the reggae and rap-infused styles of French world music. Thankfully, the So Frenchy So Chic series seeks to redress this imbalance, and this year’s compilation is no different. From the first disc’s opener, Barbara Carlotti’s Cannes, it’s obvious that compilers Jean-Francois Ponthieux and Juliette Bouquerel have taken the difficult path of sourcing music that doesn’t play up to cringe-worthy French music stereotypes worthy of ’Allo ’Allo! Instead, the music on these discs is remarkably varied, displaying choice examples of the French music scene that Australians have largely ignored. Some highlights include Les Hurlements d’Léo’s L’Addiction, a touchingly Crowded House-esque pop-rock number, the kitsch electro-jazz of Holden’s Madrid, and Nouvelle Vague’s cover of Bauhaus’s Bela Lugosi’s Dead. Unfortunately, there’s some filler on these two CDs – some of it veering dangerously close to St. Germain des Pres-Café territory – but, by and large, this is a high-quality compilation showcasing unusual French sounds. C’est bien!

***½

CHAD PARKHILL

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*