Penelope Queen:
I'd Rather Be Naked:
Les Disques du Crepuscule:
Out Now:
7/10
Fans of the Belgian boutique imprint Les Disques du Crepuscule will be glad to learn of the label's revival (along with the Factory Benelux label) courtesy of LTM Record's chief James Nice. Many of the label's key artists will receive the full re-issue treatment in the coming months, including a few of Isabelle's out-of-print albums. To kick things off though, Penelope Queen's mild-mannered odyssey heralds the rebirth without so much of a bang, more of a hushed gentle whisper. It's an apt new beginning - Crepuscule rarely made a huge hoo-hah about its roster, (leaving many aficionados and artists pulling their hair out) and Queen has performed just the one launch show to plug it. But, there's always time for more.
Reading the promotional summary for this album, it's not very surprising to learn that most of this album germinated in the south of France, such is its languid, hazy sunshine-speckled delivery. It's also not a surprise to discover that Penelope Queen's mum, mentor and guiding light on this album is electro-bossa nova luminary Isabelle Antena. Thus, I'd Rather Be Naked is an unhurried and mainly-acoustic meander that is both personal, stripped bare (hence the 'naked' in the title) and, in places, retrospect.
In keeping with the likes of the label's previous acts from the '80s and '90s, such as Antena, Devine and Statton, Cathy Claret, Gabrielle Lazure, Marie Audigier and, to a lesser degree, Anna Domino, Penelope Queen sports a fragile yet capable set of tonsils and sings, breathes and harmonizes her way through 13 songs written during the last few years. Having heard the demos a while back, I'm personally delighted that she hasn't chosen to swamp her original sound with tricksy electronica or to turn it into an urban-pop nightmare.
From opening track Drawn onwards, the order of the day here is simplicity. Voice, acoustic guitar, minimal strings, romantic and relationship-influence lyrics make most of this album a pleasing and very human assemblage. Livelier highlights include the aforementioned opener plus Girls Don't Cry, Hey Little One and Ms Nobody, all of which demonstrate Queen's knack for a pop-song. Her real forte however, is with the more forlorn or reflective side of her nature - Just Lay, When Spring Arrives and the super Heartbeat all recall her mother's occasionally plaintive oeuvre, strengthened by the fact she's had time to ably cover an Antena classic in the process - Silly Things from the Camino Del Sol era.
As with most debuts, it doesn't all work - L.O.L. and That Thing, That Voice trifle with text-speak and faux-soul similar to Rihanna or Beyonce without the razzmatazz while Says The Rain doesn't quite repeat the charm of the not-dissimilar April Showers from Bambi, (yes, yes I know - to cool for Disney) with it's 'plip-plop' references. But, 10 sure-fire winners out of 13 ain't bad and with I'd Rather Be Naked, Ms Queen proves she's not a Ms Nobody in the slightest and can rightfully proclaim, as on the song of the same name, "Some say I wouldn't make it, but here I am".
For more info about Penelope Queen's live activity, head to Allgigs here
To buy the album, go to Les Disques du Crepuscule here
I'd Rather Be Naked:
Les Disques du Crepuscule:
Out Now:
7/10
Reading the promotional summary for this album, it's not very surprising to learn that most of this album germinated in the south of France, such is its languid, hazy sunshine-speckled delivery. It's also not a surprise to discover that Penelope Queen's mum, mentor and guiding light on this album is electro-bossa nova luminary Isabelle Antena. Thus, I'd Rather Be Naked is an unhurried and mainly-acoustic meander that is both personal, stripped bare (hence the 'naked' in the title) and, in places, retrospect.
In keeping with the likes of the label's previous acts from the '80s and '90s, such as Antena, Devine and Statton, Cathy Claret, Gabrielle Lazure, Marie Audigier and, to a lesser degree, Anna Domino, Penelope Queen sports a fragile yet capable set of tonsils and sings, breathes and harmonizes her way through 13 songs written during the last few years. Having heard the demos a while back, I'm personally delighted that she hasn't chosen to swamp her original sound with tricksy electronica or to turn it into an urban-pop nightmare.
From opening track Drawn onwards, the order of the day here is simplicity. Voice, acoustic guitar, minimal strings, romantic and relationship-influence lyrics make most of this album a pleasing and very human assemblage. Livelier highlights include the aforementioned opener plus Girls Don't Cry, Hey Little One and Ms Nobody, all of which demonstrate Queen's knack for a pop-song. Her real forte however, is with the more forlorn or reflective side of her nature - Just Lay, When Spring Arrives and the super Heartbeat all recall her mother's occasionally plaintive oeuvre, strengthened by the fact she's had time to ably cover an Antena classic in the process - Silly Things from the Camino Del Sol era.
As with most debuts, it doesn't all work - L.O.L. and That Thing, That Voice trifle with text-speak and faux-soul similar to Rihanna or Beyonce without the razzmatazz while Says The Rain doesn't quite repeat the charm of the not-dissimilar April Showers from Bambi, (yes, yes I know - to cool for Disney) with it's 'plip-plop' references. But, 10 sure-fire winners out of 13 ain't bad and with I'd Rather Be Naked, Ms Queen proves she's not a Ms Nobody in the slightest and can rightfully proclaim, as on the song of the same name, "Some say I wouldn't make it, but here I am".
For more info about Penelope Queen's live activity, head to Allgigs here
To buy the album, go to Les Disques du Crepuscule here