Merci Mon Ami

The career of Berlin singer Zarah Leander has always been shrouded in mystery because of the circumstances that allowed her to continue performing through World War II. But her music, which is definitely stuck in 1930s and 1940s Germany, has a unique quality about it. Her dark voice, which lies somewhere between a croon and a moan, carries Merci, Mon Ami quite well. The dark orchestration rumbling underneath these songs is wonderfully understated, with a distinctly European sound. This give the songs the strength they need to keep up with Leander's voice. There are few actual highlights, as the album stands strong as a piece of time more than anything else. This captures the overall mood and tension of the era wonderfully, and although things do tend to get a little boring at times (especially towards the beginning of the second disc), overall this is a strong collection for anyone curious about this time and place in music. ~ Bradley Torreano