Breut’s beautiful last album was followed by her music for the major movie hit Amelie. This young French artist is well established on home territory while enjoying an underground following over in the UK. I loved the previous album for its originality, introspection and strong melodic quality.

This new album is very different. The style is more conventional and on occasions quite rocky, as per the opening track La Certitude. Brushed and angrily bashed drums, bass and guitar dominate the backdrop while a detached Breut vocal wafts gently over the noise. It’s a strong start followed by one of two English language songs, Over All. This song has a simple piano rhythm, flashes of guitar and banjo, and a strong folk vibe. There’s also a superb melody and a beautiful set of lyrics to a sad song that gets better ever time I hear it. Breut’s voice while not especially good has a compelling, even mesmerizing quality. This comes through in the next songs, Le Ravinand La Vie Devant Soi as she sings above the occasional clamour of Tex-Mex style guitar riffs. Later in the album the second English language song, Please Be Angry, arrives with its highly original guitar riffs and eerie ambience. And as strange as it may seem, both English language tracks are my album favourites.

This is a lovely album with diversity of pace and mood, and while not quite as good as her last album, will doubtless please her fans. It is beautifully produced and brings out the richness of diverse instrumental sounds, and Breut’s attractive voice. It’s also an album I can strongly recommend.

4/5