Album Review: Carla Bruni - Little French Songs

21 June 2013 | 9:58 pm | Amorina Fitzgerald Hood

Its simplicity is unlikely to appeal to those who prefer more dynamic music; it could be brushed off as being too boring or anonymous. However, there is a classiness and charm to the album that grows with each listen.

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Ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon or an introspective evening, singer-songwriter Carla Bruni's fourth studio album Little French Songs is slow-burning and quietly beautiful. In contrast to her colourful life – Italian-French ex-model married to the former President of France – the record is relaxed and breezy. So much so the jazz-inflected folk at times comes close to becoming wall-paper. The production is typified by finger-picked acoustic guitar, subtle string arrangements and occasional shuffling percussion, with some warmer moments featuring horns and electric guitar. Bruni's voice is front and centre. It's delicate and likeable without being saccharine, and she has a clean, direct delivery.

Structurally the album doesn't always work, particularly in the first half. The flow is confused, flitting from down-tempo lullabies on odd-numbered tracks to more cheerful songs on the even, which can be jarring. Opener J'Arrive A Toi is beautiful but meditative, feeling more like a final song on an album with its suspension of time and mysterious strings. Track two, the upbeat Chez Keith et Anita, would have served as a more inviting start and is by far the most fun on the album.

There are lovely moments where the whimsical French folk shines, like Dolce Francia, Darling, and Liberté, and later tracks Little French Song and Le Pinguion are delightfully cute. Some swagger shows up in Pas Une Dame but overall the tone of the album is one of intimacy. Its simplicity is unlikely to appeal to those who prefer more dynamic music; it could be brushed off as being too boring or anonymous. However, there is a classiness and charm to the album that grows with each listen.