Paris

Highlighting artists from the Nouvelle Scene (New Scene), Paris features modern takes on classic French chanson. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to Terre des Hommes in support of their efforts to provide active support to disadvantaged children around the world. Putumayo. 2006.

Many Putumayo compilations fail to capture the essence of a specific region by focusing on music that is simply too polite for its own good. When it comes to the languid charms of French chanson, however, the label has always excelled. An indispensable companion to the previously released French Café Paris focuses on the renaissance of French popular music in the hands of artists such as the raspy voiced Thomas Fersen, supermodel-turned-songwriter Carla Bruni and the ineffable Paris Combo-- arguably, the one group that started the smoky cabaret song revival in the mid-'90s. An air of luxury and languor defines the 12 tracks here, from the breezy bossa nova of Coralie Clément's "Samba de Mon Coeur Qui Bat" ("Samba of my Beating Heart") to the accordion laced atmospherics of Amelie-Les-Crayons and the wistful "Ta P'tite Flamme" ("Your Little Flame"). Judging by this disc, contemporary French pop may very well be one of the most exciting musical movements in the world right now. --Ernesto Lechner