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rough guide to music of france - various artists With this label's knack for unearthing gems that reflect the soul of the place and the French propensity for iconoclasm that revels in both the country's multicultural roots and the vast terrain of its own heritage this collection is not only firmly centred but wildly diverse covering varied Gaelic styles that include a corker of a performance with Senegalese master percussionist Doudou N/Diaye Rose and Breton pipe band Bagad Men Ha Tan, whose aptly titled Cayenne is designed to strip the paint off the walls, polyphonic choral singing from Corsica, rap/ragga folk, heavy-rock cum folk, jazzy bal musette, French chanson and a plethora of folk musics, France will certainly have the uninitiated scratching his/her head. It would be remiss of me to omit mention of the masterful Legende, a gypsy swing number by Romane & Angelo Debarre which, while featuring guitar and violin played at a superhuman clip still maintains the airiness of Swiss cheese (or should that be French cheese). And what French music collection could fail to include the legendary Edith Piaf. Her intoxicating Les Amants De Paris only serves to reinforce her reputation as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. 22 songs, excellent sound quality, intelligent liner notes. Off you go now. RJ July 2003 |
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