| Jazz, Pop, Rock |
Yes, we took our time to talk to you about this album, and the reason is simple. At Bayou Blue Radio, we wanted to highlight it for the year-end holidays to give it the spotlight it deserves. Who knows, it might be a great opportunity to gift it to someone close who loves jazz.
The protocol is straightforward: to breathe new life into the pop/rock music of the ’70s. For this purpose, a trio of passionate musicians, along with the genius of Baptiste Trotignon, who, with his talent and years of experience, offers his unique take on tracks we all know, from Police to Queen and others. For example, his very personal rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Money.” We particularly appreciate this inventive rewriting that even manages to make us appreciate tracks that may not be very interesting, transforming them into works of art. This trio has a strong cohesion, as you can see in this video, showcasing the beautiful camaraderie among the musicians:
This synergy among these three artists reflects in the recordings. They contain as much poetry as they do joy for life, like in this beautiful rendition of “Here Comes the Sun,” a song I never liked, and “Norwegian Wood”… as Serge Gainsbourg would say, “Classy!”. In fact, this entire album commands respect for its intellectual intelligence. We don’t receive many genuinely exciting albums from France anymore, but this one stands out. It doesn’t seek to be a mere business card or impress with effects going in all directions. Here, everything is in acoustic mode, sounding remarkably clear. It only transitions into rock mode when necessary to serve a part of a track. There’s a profound exploration of sound, a true delight for your ears.
As an impressive composer and pianist, I refer you to his biography for a better understanding of his inspirations.
And to dispel any doubt about this album, here’s an excerpt from what you can read on Baptiste Trotignon’s website: “BREXIT MUSIC is not a political album! But it probably holds in its title – which came to me long after the idea of the repertoire – a certain taste for derision which is finally quite British: art shall survive all social fads! I especially wanted a very fresh, playful sound, a lot of groove, and a bit of humor… A real game in a way, but made with conscientiousness! The intense presence of Matt and Greg has a lot to do with it.”
We didn’t even discuss the merits of including this album in our “essentials” between the editorial teams of Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move; everything was decided in a fraction of a second and without discussion.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, December 10th 2023
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Those of my generation who had heard for the first time legendary titles played by the group or the artist who composed them will discover how a rewriting of these titles will make them even more legendary. Listen for example to this wonderful rendition of “Life on Mars?” by David Bowie or this explosive and colorful “Interstellar Overdrive” by the Pink Floyd from the Syd Barrett era. These titles are not replayed in the manner of… but reinterpreted with the touch, the signature, the talent, the genius of Baptiste and his accomplices.
An album which is one of the great, very great albums of this year 2023 and without a doubt one of the most beautiful of this decade. An album which is not only an “essential”, but also “THE” gift to give to any music lover at the end of this year.
An album that deserves a standing ovation, and a long, very long one.
Frankie Bluesy Pfeiffer
Editor in chief Paris-Move
PARIS-MOVE, December 10th 2023
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