Sortir

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:41:57
Photographers: Jean-Marc Lubrano; Gregory Debure; Jeremy Lebreton. Gerald de Palmas' fifth studio album, Sortir, finds him picking up where he left off five years earlier with his previous full-length effort, Un Homme Sans Racines (2004), a number one smash hit that charted for nearly two years. If there is any remaining doubt about the acclaimed French singer/songwriter's career, which faltered in the late '90s when his second album, Les Lois de la Nature (1997), was something of a catastrophe, Sortir is all the more evidence that de Palmas is on a roll with his third outstanding studio release in a row. Granted, he takes his time between albums, releasing a new full-length studio effort every half-decade or so, yet as maddening as the long wait is for fans, the relatively drawn-out period of gestation once again proves worthwhile. Sortir is not only another showcase for de Palmas' prowess as a melancholic lyricist and his propensity for well-crafted songs, it's also an impressively varied album with a wide range of tones and often inventive arrangements. An air of calmness pervades, from the ambient opening notes of the album to its intense conclusion 40 minutes later, yet each song expresses this mood in a different way. The lyrics are a big part of Sortir, of course, as are the impassioned vocals of de Palmas. This is nothing new. More than anything else, what's different from before is the singer/songwriter's penchant for programmed rhythm tracks. The lead single from his previous album, "Ell Danse Seule," was graced with an off-kilter drum track that gave the song much of its character. That's the case with practically all of Sortir, an album whose music is driven not by guitar riffs or string arrangements but rather by programmed rhythm tracks. These touches of downtempo electronica are modest yet nonetheless stylish for a mainstream pop album such as this, and they speak to the ability of de Palmas to write great songs while at the same time coming up with evocative music. As on past albums, the highlights of Sortir are front-loaded ("Au Bord de l'Eau," "Dans une Larme," "Rose") and the more experimental songs come later, which makes for a listening experience that begins on a high note and concludes on a curious one (most daring are "Pandora's Box," a collaboration with Eagle-Eye Cherry, and the climactic title track). ~ Jason Birchmeier
録音 : ステレオ (---)