Thursday, August 16, 2018

JOHN CHUCKMAN REVIEW: THE ALBUM "RECTO VERSO" BY FRENCH SINGER-SONGWRITER ZAZ

In my earlier review of the album, "Zaz," I somewhat diminished "Recto Verso" by saying that it was good, like "Paris," but wasn't quite up to "Zaz," which is, for anyone who likes this kind of French music, one of the most attractive albums ever made.

Well, I apologize, having listened more to “Recto Verso.” It truly is every bit as good as “Zaz,” a rare thing in popular music to do two albums to such high standards. “Recto Verso” is genuinely excellent throughout and quite moving in parts.

Of course, for all really fine music – classical or popular – being able to listen to it a number of times, still getting something from it, is almost a defining characteristic.

This is an extraordinarily talented woman. She writes fine songs, and she sings any song with great feeling, which, to my mind, is what this kind of French music is all about. I have a small collection of the great chanteuses, and Zaz ranks with the very best.

Again, just as with the album, “Zaz,” she moves me to tears in a couple of numbers. And that’s on top of all the purely pleasant music here. The arrangements always are agreeable and never intrusive. There is simply not one track on this album that does not please in one way or another.

That’s high praise, and she deserves it.