Dolores
Jean-Louis Murat is a writer, singer and guitarist who has also done some acting (in Jacques Doillon's 1990 film La Vengeance d’une Femme). Murat is a cultivator of a specific style, a certain musical aesthetic. Haunting and often sensual moods characterize his music, and this collection of songs is no different. Dolores is a concept album centered on Murat’s fascination with the opposite sex.
The album begins with the song "Fort Alamo", the story of a messy breakup: « Si dans tes bontés internationals je ne vaux plus le coup/ C’est l’adieu aux armes, l’oubli est en place, je m’en fous. » Yet Murat is still every bit the romantic, as evidenced in the song "Dieu N’a Pas Trouvé Mieux ". It‘s a dreamy, sumptuous waltz where he confesses: « Mieux que ta bouche, mieux que tes lèvres... Non, Dieu n’a pas trouvé mieux. »
The sleek "Le Train Bleu", sweetened with live drums, is the most cohesive song on the album, if not of Murat’s career. It succeeds in blending moody jazz with Murat’s even moodier poetry: « Dans un train bleu je sommeil/ Entre Lyon et Génève/ Mon coeur peuplé d’idées noires. »
"Brûle-Moi" mixes distinctive percussion with swirling guitars and keyboards, while "Margot" is trip-hop without the irony. "Renversibilité", the last track, is a somber prayer of sorts, with Murat asking, « Ange plein de gaité, connaissez-vous l’angoisse/ La honte, les remords, les sanglots, les ennuis? »
Murat ignores popular music’s conventions and makes music that is artistic and adventurous. Dolores is his finest album yet.
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Jean-Louis Murat
Dolores
Item 04561 $21.95 CD.
Songs: Fort alamo, Dieu n’a pas trouvé mieux, Perce-neige, Le train bleu,
Margot, Brûle-moi, Le baiser, Le môme eternel, Saint-Amant, Aimer, A quoi tu rêves,
Renversibilité. Lyrics included.