Rating:
* * * *
French women have long been masters of making things seem effortless. Whether whipping up a five-course meal or completing the school run without a hair out of place, they bring an innate sense of cool to anything they do. With that in mind, Vanessa Paradis' album
Divinidylle
- her first since 2001 - is typically French.
Sweet yet husky, Paradis hooks listeners with the playful coo and handclaps of opening track
Divine Idylle
. While it makes for a fun start to the record, Paradis is quick to turn her hand to other styles, proving she is not simply a pop princess.
The deep, smouldering drawl of
Chet Baker
is accompanied by languorous strings and jazz guitar that conjure images of warm summer nights under the stars.
Likewise, the smooth slide of a harmonica brings a deep south flavour to the seductive, back-and-forth duet
Le Piles
, sung with producer Mathieu Chedid.
As she continues to make her way through more sultry pop (
Des Que J'Te Vois
), acoustic jams (
Les Revenants
) and haunting, whispered piano ballads (
Junior Suite
) it seems Paradis can do no wrong - until she tries to pair her girlish tones with the reggae jam of
La Melodie
. The chaotic instrumental clash of
La Bataille
is also at odds with the album's suave energy.
But two small missteps cannot detract from what is otherwise a delightful record of effortless cool.
Joanna Hunkin
Jussie Smollett was convicted of staging a hate crime in 2021.