Tres bon! Voil^ le nouveau disque de Stereolab. C'est
une
aventure sonique fantastique. Quoi? Tu ne parle pas Fran_aise? Merde.
OK, then. We'll speak English, even though the record D be warned D doesn't. Not that it matters, for here is a sumptuous, cinematic cushion of strings and brass (arranged by The High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan), in which sultry French chanteuse Brigitte Fontaine trills along to what sounds like a James Bond theme song. Assisted by R2-D2, apparently.
And, in the grand tradition of Edith Piaf and Jane Birkin, it matters not what she sings, for the message is
clear.
She could be delivering the Marxist manifesto for all we know, but as she sighs, gurgles, and rolls her r's in that seductive French fashion, it sounds frothily, fruitily sexy. Not something, it must be said, heretofore associated with many Stereolab records.Magnifique!
April Long
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.
Comments do not always reflect the views of NME, or IPC Media, for guidelines visit our Ts & Cs page