Le Retour de l'Âge d'Or
To hear a sample:
L'Affaire Louis Trio
Le retour de l'Âge d'Or
Item 01455 $25.95 CD
Songs: Bois ton café, Le retour de l’âge d’or, Religado, Paradis d’amour,
Annie, Bois ton café – il est tard, Il y a ceux, Succès de larmes, Histoire de
fous, Bob et Linda, Adieux à l’amour, Adieux à l’amour – final, La
ballade, Un jouet qui nous plaît
Lyrics included.
As much as I love learning about the newest artists and hearing the freshest sounds around, the music of the 1980s holds a special place in my heart, as it is the music of my childhood. So I must confess that the first time I heard "Le Retour de l'Âge d'Or" I was instantly charmed.
The opening track, "Bois Ton Café", is a delightful cha-cha in which lead singer Boris Cleet consoles a downtrodden friend, imploring, "Cesse de pleurer comme ça, ça sert à quoi?...Bois ton café tant qu'il est chaud." This is followed by the title song, forcibly reminiscent of Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles.
This is a diverse, playful group of songs, infused with a lighthearted tone that make even the sad songs seem fun. Influences range from the classic chanson française to Latin pop to 1980s funk and rock. They even offer their irreverent take on the torchy love song ("Succès de Larmes"). The marriage of such varied sounds works beautifully because beneath the dense, clever arrangements are brilliant pop songs.
"Bois Ton Café, Il Est Tard" is a sweetly orchestrated instrumental track that leads into the funky "Il Y A Ceux" ("Il y a ceux qui pense comme moi... Il y a ceux qui ne pensent pas"). There are some moments of genuine perfection, most notably the heady mix of jazz, funk and samba of "Annie" and the breezy "Histoire de Fous".
Another sweeping instrumental, "La Ballade", leads to the last song, "Un Jouet Qui Nous Plaît", a tongue-in-cheek ode to the art of love. Set to an irresistible beat, it is bawdy fun. L’Affaire Louis Trio has an immense talent for both songwriting and producing, and this album is a smooth blend of substance and style.
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