Among
Francis Cabrel
's many recordings since 1977,
Hors-Saison
(Out Season) remains his classic. Paced easily and intently on groove figures and melodic
folk
and
rock
songs, in 1999,
Cabrel
arrived at the epitome of his art. Using the same quartet that recorded
Sabarcane
with
Manu Katchie
on drums and percussion, bassist
Bernard Paganotti
,
Gerard Bikialo
on Hammond organ and Wurlitzer, with
Denys Lable
on acoustic guitar and the percussion stylings of
Denis Benarrosh
has created an immediate, spare, direct emotional statement of melancholy and simplicity. His music on
Out Season
sounds like a cross between
Bruce Cockburn
Tony Joe White
, with
blues
swirling around
French folk
music to drag out the nuances in each and force them by the sheer power of his will to stride along with one another in relative harmony -- though the tension is ever present. No matter the theme, whether it's a heartfelt treatise on the passing of
heroes
Son House
Blind Lemon Jefferson
, and
Charley Patton
(
"Cent Aus de Plus"
or
"100 Years More"
done as a gorgeous
acoustic folk
song, and not as a
Delta
knock off), a pastoral country love song,
"The Beautiful Debbie"
"La Belle Debbie"
), or the
funky
social commentary of
"The World Is Deaf"
"Le Mond Est Sourd"
) with its blazing guitar figures,
delivers with sincerity, passion, and restraint. His elegance is only surpassed by his taste in musicians and his reliance on their input into his music. All of these tunes were recorded within three days with only three live takes being allowed -- though there was plenty of meeting before to shape them dynamically and atmospherically -- before the next song was called to order. The rapport between the musicians is extraordinary and seldom encountered when listening to
pop
music. Silky, rich, luxuriant, and honest, what more could someone ask for in a
singer/songwriter
record? Well, how about a French cover of
Otis Redding
's
"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
? Yep, and even with this strangely European arrangement it loses none of its sensuality. Even the non-French-speaking listener who appreciates well-crafted
/
music will fall all over himself or herself with praise for this work of art. ~ Thom Jurek