Francoiz Breut – Les Jeunes Pousses
Francoiz Breut – Mouchoir De Poche
Francoiz Breut – L’Enticelle Ou La Contrainte Du Feu
This record was released in France late last year through T-rec, which is how I procured my original copy. It’s finally been released stateside so this seems like a good time to do a full review of the record. A l’aveuglette, her fourth album, is her best work yet, all in French (which I unfortunately don’t speak and can barely pronounce but simply love to hear) and lyrics all written by Breut for the first time in her career.
Breut’s music often is compared to artists such as Calexico, Nick Cave and other how shall we say, “dark romantic” musicians. This record certainly has a certain mood to it in parts, (especially due to some short instrumental tracks that I could personally do without, but understand their inclusion in the complete work) but largely it’s a record that shines and sounds like a springtime afternoon or early summer evening.
Without a doubt the crown jewel of the album is the third track “Les Jeunes Pousses.” This song grabs onto you like no other, with a marching, galloping rhythm led by acoustic guitar, vibraphone and snare that then comes to a short stop when Breut begins singing, only to add clarion calls from trumpets before returning to the prior rhythm. It reminds me ever so slightly of the National’s “Fake Empire” except in that case the song builds and builds throughout whereas here you’re in mid-stride right from the beginning. A fantastic song, the best of her career.
Another standout track, my second favorite, is “Mouchoir De Poche” which begins primarily with banjo and small flourishes from bells and guitar during Francoiz’s early vocals before shifting gears inexplicably into a solid head nodding groove complete with handclaps about a third of the way in. “L’Enticelle Ou La Contrainte Du Feu,” a much darker but still triumphant song, features guest vocals from one of the singers from another French group Mansfield TYA. At first I swore it was Chan Marshall of Cat Power singing in French, but a welcome surprise nonetheless (and a group to also keep an eye on).
And then there is the closing track “L’Automne Avant L’heure” where several themes from earlier songs seem to find there way here but mix together into something new, and even unexpected when the tempo and melody changes at roughly the midway point. “A L’aveuglette” is a marvelous record, one to adore and admire.