Les Clochards - Sweet Tableaux

  by Anthony Middleton

published: 3 / 7 / 2009

---

A fusion of the French chanson tradition and American soul should not really work, but on 'Sweet Tableaux', a brisk cheerful and meandering album, it appears to. From Orbison crooning to Nico-like Euro dirges, the album is an unexpected and growing pleasure. To emphasise the Gallic influence, the accordion of Karen Cleave is predominant, without over-oeufing the pudding. The majority of vocal duties lie with the smooth tones of Ian Nixon who is understated and controlled. Corrine Mateo, who certainly sounds French, performs the rest of the singing, giving the album a decidedly cosmopolitan feeling. Nearly all the songs are brisk and breezy affairs, generally upbeat and the accordion lends the whole thing an unusual tinge of regret and bittersweet nostalgia. You half expect them to break in 'Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)'. Some tracks are more successful than others, 'Durdle Door', allows both singers and accordion to full effect. 'Shallow' stands out; here Mateo is reminiscent of Nico, particularly I’ll Be Your Mirror; laid back, nearly speaking in one of the more downbeat numbers, complete with waves washing on the beach. Other than that it is very much an album of influence skilfully corralled and used to original effect. There are occasionally nods to Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg, Gene Vincent among others. Occasionally you are reminded of other things, Tango Borracho tormented me until I finally dug out Pulp’s 'His ‘n’ Hers' and heard 'David’s Last Summer'. The only real similarity is the intimately confessional spoken reminiscences. In 'A Previous Life' had me searching Frank Black albums, without success, but anything that does that can’t be bad. 'Les Clochards' ('The Tramps'), according to Google translator) album is unusual, appealing and melodic. Like some great Sixties French movie, at times it’s sexy and happy, then downshifts and becomes heartbreaking, notably the final track 'Pride Prevents Pt 2'. Quite what will become of the band I have no idea. Their MySpace shows mere dozens of listens and scatterings of gigs around their hometown Oxford. Given the quality of 'Sweet Tableaux', it is hard to believe they won’t get much more attention.

Track Listing:-

1 Pride Prevents Pt. 1
2 Glad I Made You Laugh
3 Lavinia
4 Tango Borracho
5 Stone Angels
6 Durdle Door
7 Démodé
8 Shallow
9 No Shame
10 My Saving Grace
11 In a Previous Life
12 Pride Prevents Pt. 2

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg