Album cover of Emilie Simon's The Big Machine. Photo / Supplied
Rating: 5/5
Verdict: From New York, avec passion
Inspiration for this wonderfully chaotic collection from Montpellier-born chanteuse Emilie Simon came from her uprooting herself and moving to New York. Swapping baguettes for hot dogs, she let her mind explore another dimension, and she takes her listeners there with this intensely quirky repertoire - in English.
The album is
written, arranged and produced by Simon, but this is the first time she has allowed others to contribute. Whether it's the collaboration, or the fact that she has been forced to be more of an extrovert, the 12 songs are braver, louder and more energetic than its two introspective predecessors.
Chirpy opener Rainbow is the first example of Simon cutting loose - where in Vegetal she cooed, now she bellows - and there are more retro pop influences than ever before. This is not just an electro collection - it's crazy trans-continental pop, and it's clever.
Just like its title, Dreamland is surreal and possibly dangerous, while Chinatown creeps through the alien streets Simon found herself in when she settled in the Big Apple (or Machine). The Ballad Of the Big Machine with its plodding keyboard melody and Simon's sweet, but crisply chilling vocals, is quite the heart-wrencher and Rocket to the Moon mimics a cheeky cabaret.
Simon has again created something totally unique, but this time it will get its listeners' blood fizzing, rather than swilling around while pondering life slumped in a chair.
