Orwell: Le Genie Humain

DVDfever.co.uk – Orwell: Le Genie Humain CD reviewElly Roberts reviews

Orwell: Le Genie Humain
Distributed by
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 DS’s (which are being reintroduced in 2010..yes!) meandering along the cute undulating country lanes. This is what Orwell’s 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 they’ve 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 don’t need to understand the words, to enjoy. It would also make a wonderful soundtrack for some French flick – there’s bound to be one just waiting for this.

Au – Dessus De Moi, intro’d 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 L’Infini complete with airy xylo and Stan Getz inflected sax; a real creamy track.Beatles-era Strawberry Fields and BB’s Pet Sounds / Smile run deceptively through nimble through Sun Holiday, whereas you’re 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 L’Infini
7. J’ai Tout Oublie
8. Sun Holiday
9. Le Genie Humain
10. Sans Precedent
11. De Ce Monde
12. Slow Down
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