Arret Sur Image - Bernard Lavilliers

Advantages: Beautifully encapsulates the film
Disadvantages: You'll drive people around the bend listening to it!

...Brief film overview: Amelie lives in France, she is a happy person who yearns to improve the lives of those around her. What follows is mystery, intrigue, surrealism of only the highest French order... This bouncy soundtrack begins with a few staccato pieces, merged together with classicly French-sounding instruments. The first, 'J'y suis jamais alle', is a great opener that sets the scene, and is then furthered in beauty by 'les jours tristes', which is bound to lift your spirits. It sounds something like gliding over the French continent and being able to watch the hustle-bustle without actually smelling of cheese yourself. 'La valse des vieux os' is duetted on the accordion and evokes images of tres, tres French men standing on the cobbled Parisian streets, playing for playing's sake. This CD is about fun (after all, Amelie looks... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: all good songs
Disadvantages: Brets bowie on helium impersonnation

...this was suedes debut album, and they were a very hyped band at the start of 1993 and were on all the magazine covers before they had release anything, but there first and best record was simply called suede and had a very controversial cover of lesbians kissing. Bret is the lead singer and sounds like David Bowie on helium writes the words which are often dark but philisophical. All the early singles are on here and are brilliant, especially Metal Micky. So Young has a brilliant piano riff in the middle and Animal Nitrate has a good riff to it aswell. Breakdown is the standout track aswell as the last song The next life a piano dreamy ballard. The album is so good any of the songs could have been singles. The guitarist Bernard butler left and suede became crap.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Unique musical vision. Evocative. Masterful.
Disadvantages: Absolutely None

...example of how the musicians work together. The introductive sprinkling of Christensen's cymbals and Galliano's flowing in-and-out waves of muted accordion give the impression of a fine breeze blowing on a sandy landscape (as the title suggests). Regard de Mouette is a uniquely Brahem-esque vision; a romantic but heartbreaking tune, conjured through Bechir Selmi's violin. Sur l'Infini Bleu conveys the feeling of endless space and sorrow; similar to what Brahem does on Barzakh (ECM Records, 1991). Claquent les Voiles, Vague and E La Nave Va are like paintings of shores and detailed water kinks hammering the wooden bellies of boats. They are tracks that instantly propel you in a specific place. Anouar Brahem has a romantic vision of the small details in life and these tracks certainly prove it. Even the titles suggest this. Ain Ghazel... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful