En Cavale＜Colored Vinyl＞

群雄が割拠するポストパンク・エイジを清涼感溢れるエレクトロ・ボサノバ・サウンドで駆け抜け、クレプスキュールを代表する存在となったアンテナ。もともと3人組のユニットだったアンテナは、1985年に解散する以前から実質的にはイザベル・アンテナのソロ・プロジェクトでした。

本作は1986年、イザベル・アンテナのソロ・デビュー作としてリリースされた『EN CAVALE』にボーナスを追加した新装版。アルバム本編はマーティン・ヘイルズがプロデュースを担当し、華やか&グルーヴィーなメインストリームのポップへシフト。多くのミックステープ、コンピレーションにセレクトされた"SEASIDE WEEK END"、そして"PLAY BACK"など、その魅力は今でも全く色褪せません。クレプスキュールからのCD再発時に追加されていた"Mummy's Not At Home Tonight"などのシングルB面曲、12インチ・ヴァージョン、更には1983年にアイランドのために録音されたデモを追加収録。ジャケも美しいイザベル嬢のポートレートに差し替えられた新装&決定盤!

The first solo release by Isabella Antena but essentially a continuation of her work from the days of the Antena trio (then duo), En Cavalle, produced excellently by Martin Hayles and a crack studio band under his direction, is an immediate, enjoyable release. That Antena didn't make a bigger splash at the time (especially after Sade had popularized bossa nova grooves as modern pop) is downright remarkable -- she's in excellent voice throughout and her backing players, including earlier bandmate Sylvain Fasy on guitar, both perform and are recorded brilliantly. But such are the vagaries of the market, though at least those who listen in now will be well rewarded. Starting with the sassy-yet-cool kick of "Play Back," a great showcase for flautist Philip Todd, En Cavalle is also a showcase for Antena's songwriting ability, with six out of nine songs written solely by her. Her singing is confident, sly and straightforward throughout -- there's no being lost in the mix here, more a perfect sympathy with the musicians, from the rollicking punch of "How Can They Tell" to the more modern shock of "Life Is Too Short," an almost industrial-pop brawler at the start. "Seaside Weekend" in particular is a winner, the busy tropical beats set against soft, reflective piano work, then topped off by Antena's sweet singing and gentle scat work. There's also an inspired cover of the Sister Sledge's "Easy Street," interpolating hints of Antena's other musical obsessions into the steady disco punch of the original to create a winning tribute. As with LTM's work in general, part of the appeal of the re-released album from 2005, retitled En Cavalle Bis, lies in the bonus tracks -- seven surface here, including earlier versions of "Be Pop" and "Life Is Too Short." ~ Ned Raggett