6 / 10
A TRICKY FELLA, POP'S CURRENT Francophile tendency. With the ascendance of Air and Stereolab and the chin-stroking respect accorded to Pierre Henry and misogynist oaf Serge Gainsbourg, that French GCSE is starting to look a mite more useful.
Frangoiz Breut is the latest protigie of the former Cocteau Twins' Bella Union imprint, and this is a series of melancholy songs suffused with the stench of Gitanes and bathed in the half light of candles on gingham tablecloths in some Boho Latin Quarter cafi. It will mystify anyone who spent double French looking up swear words in the dictionary, but for those who fancy some mournful mysticism in a foreign language, there are few better places to start.
With lugubrious acoustic guitars, gentle brush drumming and occasional bouts of mournful violin, Mlle Breut was clearly Arab Strap's foreign exchange partner, though judging by her occasional attempts at English (for example 'My Wedding Man'), she never quite got to grips with the lingo.
The language of dour pop is universal though. Frangoiz Breut speaks it like a native.
To read all our reviews first - days before they appear online - check out NME magazine, on sale every Wednesday
For the latest music videos and backstage interviews, check out our sister site, NME Video.
-
-
Wu Lyf to play secret rooftop gig tomorrow (June 3) - ticket details
-
Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne: 'We've written 15 new songs' - video
-
Guns N' Roses threaten to storm off O2 Arena stage after being pelted with money and pint glasses
-
Kevin Shields: 'The new My Bloody Valentine album was influenced by The Beach Boys'
Comments do not always reflect the views of NME, or IPC Media, for guidelines visit our Ts & Cs page