Eight years after the release of his last solo album Confessions of a Belladonna Eater, Kid Loco is back. The master of French trip hop, integrated into the French Touch since his first long format release A Grand Love Story in 1997, has not changed much in the time elapsed: still a fan of beautiful melodies, string sections and Jamaican bass, Jean-Yves Prieur -- who also works on other projects Motorville and My Own Ghost -- has kept a chic flair to his production, with a real sense of refinement and elegance, all while borrowing from music which are less associated with these notions.
The bass is particularly smoking on The Boat Song, with a bluesy arrangement consolidated by vocals by Chris Anderson and Crayola Lectern, whereas Venus in Dub practically oozes opium from the sitar, not to mention the drowsy p-funk of Mother Spliff Connection. Also of note, the two very Bristolian performances by the Greek singer Olga Kouklaki on The Bond and Unfair Game as well as Tim Keegan doing his best Lou Reed on the aptly named Soft Landing on Grass. Off the wall is the name of the game with this album. © Smaël Bouaici/Qobuz