Music - Part 342 - Les Bonbons

Les Bonbons – Les Bonbons (Ciao Ketchup Recordings)

LP/DL

Out Now

French/English vagabond pop duo release their debut album.  

Naming yourself after the 1966 album by the legendary Jacques Brel would put pressure on any group to come up with the goods.  The man that part influenced the likes of Marc Almond, Scott Walker and Jarvis Cocker was nothing short of genius and should be celebrated far more than he is.  His husky, half spoken tones were compelling to say the least, and the man wrote pure poetry.

Essentially made up of Fred Bonbon and Billy Bonbon (not related!) they bring you nine tracks, mostly sung in French which will set alight any soiree without doubt.  Strings, brass and a swaggering vagabond sound combine to bring you one of the year’s most intriguing and entertaining albums.  Cited in some quarters as a classic, it comes very close.

Opener Le Diable Dans Ma Peau is bright and full of life as the French version of the aforementioned Pulp man.  Brass is prevalent and constant strum of acoustic guitar is complimented by a fab riff courtesy of its electric counterpart.  It’s the perfect party opener and guaranteed to help the alcohol flow.

There’s a certain Francais moon-stomp about Amandine which continues to persuade your body to get up and do a daft dance that only you would enjoy.  For a non-French speaker, the album is all about feel and soul, and it oozes character at every given opportunity.

Starting with a string section, The Sexual Appetite Of The French contains both English and French and boasts the arrogance of a Chiselled tune by The Divide Comedy.  Its brass section lifts the song up to another dimension almost without you noticing. 

Recent single, Dans Le Lumiere darkens the atmosphere slightly as its creeping, haunting melody glistens lightly in the subtlest of moods.  Les Bonbons have the ability to write songs which are perfectly arranged and perfectly executed.  Folamour shows that they are also well versed in written a faux soul-pop effort too, complete with a chorus of backing singers and a contagious melody.

Closer, Tendrement is slower and low key.  Its hypnotic vocal and hook gently building and rising to the climax and a fine fine album.  The pressure is now on for album number two.

Incroyable!

9/10

Links
Ciao Ketchup Recordings
Les Bonbons website
Les Bonbons on Twitter
Les Bonbons on Facebook
Scott Walker album review
Marc Almond on hiapop Blog


Published on Louder Than War 15/11/14 - here

If you enjoyed this article please follow hiapop on Twitter here, and like on Facebook here.