Benjamin Schoos - Profession Chanteur

  by John Clarkson

published: 19 / 4 / 2017

---

“How do you say ‘I love you’ in Chinese?” says a girl in a spoken word sample on ‘La Chinoise’, one of the only moments in English on Belgian singer-songwriter Benjamin Schoos’ largely French language compilation, ‘Profession Chanteur’. Schoos has led a colourful life, allegedly working in the past as a wrestler, an astronaut, a stuntman and an adventurer. He is also the founder and boss of Belgian label Freaksville, and currently a much in-demand producer, a radio show host, an actor and an illustrator. ‘Profession Chanteur’ compiles together some of the best tracks from his three most recent albums, ‘China Man vs Chinagirl’ (2012), ‘Beau Futur’ (2014) and ‘Night Music Love Songs’ (2016). The girl in the sample provides the answer in both Mandarin and Cantonese, but ‘Profession Chanteur’ is one of those rare records that moves beyond language. Even if one’s grasp of French is limited, one should be able, like with Serge Gainsbourg, with whom Schoos shares a similar half-spoken, half-sung delivery, to pick up on the gist of his subject matter. The breezy, lush pop of opening track ‘Je Ne Vois Que Vous’, with its funk guitar lines, rolls of huge drums and strings, is one of two duets with ex-Stereolab singer Laetitia Sadier, and captures that giddy rush of first being in love. ‘Une Derniere Danse’, Schoos' other track with Laetitia Sadier on 'Profession Chanteur', is on the surface similarly euphoric, but about the dying moments of passion in a failing relationship before its final crash. On ‘J’ai Essaye de T’Aimer’, which recalls St Etienne with its glorious pop sound and innovative use of synthesisers, Schoos flirts with April March on the album’s third duet. He, however, proves equally effective on his own, such as on the brooding, somewhat tongue-in-cheek ‘Profession Catcheur’ in which he reflects upon his former wrestling career and the strings-swept ‘A Mort L’Amour’ in which a bruised Schoos picks himself up having lost out again in love. The music is mainly lavish and orchestral, and Schoos shows himself on ‘Profession Catcheur’ to be also a skilled arranger and producer, none more so than on the six minute ‘I Love You’ which begins with a simple shimmering piano and finishes pitting pulsating shards of synth up against a winding saxophone. ‘La Grande Aventure’ is similarly thrilling, throwing gusty strings and rolls of pumping brass up against each other and concluding with a cascading Moog solo. Always ambitious and enormous fun, ‘Profession Chanteur’ stands both on its own as a fine pop record and also as a sublime testament and introduction to one of Europe’s great musical talents.

Track Listing:-

1 Je ne vois que vous
2 Profession catcheur
3 La chinoise
4 J'ai essayé de t'aimer
5 Visiter la lune
6 Une fille en or
7 Une dernière danse
8 Le combat
9 I Love You
10 La grande aventure
11 À mort l'amour !
12 Le cascadeur
13 Un parfum de nostalgie
14 Sophie

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/BenjaminSchoos/
http://benjaminschoos.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/benjaminschoos
http://benjaminschoos.tumblr.com/
http://www.bandsintown.com/BenjaminSchoos

Label Links:-

https://freaksvillerecord.myshopify.com/

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