Search - Alain Bashung :: Chatterton

An opalescent, moody album.

01/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album has achieved something that transcends language. Originally, when I encountered this album I did not understand French as well as I do now, I must admit, but an increased faculty for the language has only left me more in awe of Bashung's accomplishment. Only two or three of the songs make any actual sense on a basic lyrical level (Ma Petite Entreprise, L'apiculteur). However, where the album makes its connections with the listener is in its unparalleled ability to establish mood. Bashung's ear for the natural music and oddities of the French language, coupled with his unfaltering musical genius have produced in this album a wholly unique and powerful combination. I can honestly say that I have never heard anything like this album, and I've listened to a great deal of English, French, and American music (and a lot of Bashung). "L'apiculteur" is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. It establishes a mood even more profound than the songs that preceeded it and tells of the life and death (and afterlife?) of a beekeeper. It is completely unique and vaguely reminiscent of "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd. This is one of those albums that I can listen to without feeling compelled to skip any "inadequate tracks" because there aren't any. Even the last song ("J'ai Longtemps Contemple"), which embraces a monologue style that I typically don't find all that appealing, seems to wrap up the essence of the album so completely that I always listen to it, even when I ache to replay "L'apiculteur" which directly preceded it. My other favorite tracks are:
--"Perte de Vue"
--"Ma Petite Entreprise"
--"Elvire"
--"Un Ane Plane"I think I'll wrap this review up with one of my favorite quotations from the album:
"Que m'enseignent encore ces neons?""