Search - Arthur H :: Trouble Fete

Best album of 1998!

05/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arthur H. is the son of Jaques Higelin (a famous Dylanesque French pop star from the 70's). This is his third studio album, and with it he has fully crawled out from underneath his father's shadow. Trôublè Fêtê came out at the end of 1997 and has maintained a solid slot in my 'currently listening to' pile for a year and a half-- that's how often I play it. (FYI: It is in French - like all of his music.) Arthur H's music is part rock, part jazz, part cabaret and part surreal. English speaking comparisons that come to mind are Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. His voice is deep, he plays piano, and his band plays just about every insturment/object. Subject matter ranges from the Eiffel Tower floating off into the sky to black and white televisions playing static to African wildlife, dark forests and black barons.I strongly recommend Arthur H's music. He's better than the last couple Tom Waits albums, better than Leonard Cohen and most importantly, he's creating original sounding new music from the city of Paris, France. Someone to throw into your collection alongside the greats like Gainsbourg and Brel. An innovator. Not to be missed live."