There’s something positively theatrical or even vaudevillian about this French nine piece ensemble on their fourth long player La Belle Etoile. They delight in their ability to conjur up a seedy bawdy world, not altogether unlike Tom Waits, yet theirs is less dark, more mischievous, more fun. But it is still their own unique world, and in there they can and will do anything. Live, they’re renowned as a party machine (we’ll find out at Womadelaide), combining multiple styles, most notably ska, gypsy swing, dancehall, even reggae, jazz and rock music in one highly distinctive upbeat brew. It’s actually quite incredible how they so effortlessly slide between genres even within the same song. The tunes are also remarkably catchy, the kind of toe tapping stomps that drag you in effortlessly. They sing in a mixture of English and French, mostly French, with multiple vocalists and their instrumentation includes horns, double bass and some really interesting processed guitar. In fact the production on this album, with elements of electronics, brass, percussion and often multiple vocals really is quite incredible. Previously they’ve focussed more on the ska and reggae elements, and whilst they’re still present here the band have branched out and gone for a simultaneously more adventurous yet also possibly more pop sound, highlighting the melodies and creating jazzier fusions. This gives La Belle Etoile a certain unpredictable and mischievous energy, giving you the feeling that anything could happen at any given moment. More often than not it does, and that’s part of the charm on this 12 track burst of creative energy that barely gives you a moment of rest.
Bob Baker Fish
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