La Vita Nuova

Chris was a tremendous commercial and artistic breakthrough for Christine & the Queens Heloise Letissier -- and, as La Vita Nuova shows, shes not done yet. True to her art, she continues to push herself on this EP, transmuting the bold energy of her previous album into a moodier and more reflective set of songs. Its a risky move to begin La Vita Nuova with its slowest song, but it pays off: People, Ive Been Sad generates as much heat and excitement with its flowing melody and outpouring of emotion as Letissier did with Chris kinetic pop. She allows herself to let out some of the sorrow she braced herself against on that album, and on Mountains (We Met), the songs tumbling beats feel like her toughness falling away. On each of La Vita Nuovas songs, she discovers new layers to Chris danceable yet deeply emotional approach by combining it with the graceful sounds and tender moods of her debut album, Chaleur Humaine. With the muscular beats and airy synths of the standout Je Disparais dans Tes Bras, Letissier makes heartache and doubt seem almost appealing. Shes just as eloquent on that songs English-language sister I Disappear in Your Arms, the Spanish-English hybrid Nada, and the EPs title track, a simmering duet with Caroline Polachek in Italian. However Letissier phrases it, La Vita Nuova is a fine complement to the Chris era. ~ Heather Phares