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DVDfever.co.uk – Orwell: Le Genie Humain CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Folkwit Records
- Released: June 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Ab Fab …from France, where else?
Imaging rural France, Bordeaux region maybe, in the summer, with open – top Citroen DSs (which are being reintroduced in 2010..yes!) meandering along the cute undulating country lanes. This is what Orwells new CD does to you.
For the music of Orwell you need to head for the north east Lorraine region of France. Metz native Jerome Didelot fronts the band, along with Thierry Bellia and Alexandre Longo.
This is very much a French band doing stylish French things – straddling Baroque-pop and Chamber-pop with fabulous results, all written by Didelot. There are strong 60s touchstones evident here, reminiscent, in parts, of The Zombies Odessey and Oracle and even The Beatles mid-60s psych, and at a push Astrid Gilberto lounge-pop with some lovers rock too. Compatriot Serge Gainsbourg is more than likely the root cause for all this retro-gorgeousness, but theyve brought it bang up to- date, in places.
As a listening experience alone, Le Genie Humain really is fabulous and guaranteed to bring a summer breeze to your lives as we head for autumn.
This is one album you really dont need to understand the words, to enjoy. It would also make a wonderful soundtrack for some French flick theres bound to be one just waiting for this.
Au Dessus De Moi, introd by acoustic guitar and flute hopping along, leads the slipstream with all the other songs meticulously segued, seamlessly. After two tracks, the mould is sort of cracked, with a sort of French Mika blast Elementaire is a very jaunty pop song with lush strings wafting here and there, as they do in many parts of the album.Beach Boys Brian Wilson must surely get a nod for the punchy pop flourishes that drench Le Bon Endroit, up to now, the catchiest and most radio-friendly song fabulous production makes this a standout track.
Didelot shares singing duties with songbird Ruth Minnikin on Septembre, the first 60s sounding track. The same feel ensues on Plus LInfini complete with airy xylo and Stan Getz inflected sax; a real creamy track.Beatles-era Strawberry Fields and BBs Pet Sounds / Smile run deceptively through nimble through Sun Holiday, whereas youre half expecting Welsh song thrush Duffy to pop up on the vast soundscape of the title track (shades of John Barry seeping in here on the thrusting string arrangements).
With some shrewd remixing De Ce Monde might even get some serious DJ spins at nightclubs the ingredients are all there just waiting, while sublime ballad Slow Down, the closer, has Radio 2 written all over it.
The verdict Fantastique.
Weblinks:folkwit.biz/orwell (for track samples) /myspace.com/orwellfrenchband
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Au Dessus De Moi
2. Tout entire
3. Elementaire
4. Le Bon Endroit
5. Septembre
6. Plus LInfini
7. Jai Tout Oublie
8. Sun Holiday
9. Le Genie Humain
10. Sans Precedent
11. De Ce Monde
12. Slow Down View the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.