Christine and the Queens - Chaleur Humaine
9/10
Not so much a new album, more a revised version of Chaleur Humaine, the 2014 French top ten album from the androgynous alter-ego of 27 year old Héloïse Letissier. Letissier has always combined her native French with English in her writing, but for this release lyrics on some tracks were completely re-worked, and titles even changed, for the US – the defining track Christine becomes Tilted, for example. Two tracks from the original album have been dropped completely in order to make way for three earlier releases to be air-lifted in, including the two American collaborations – Jonathan (with Perfume Genius), and No Harm Is Done (with rapper Tunji Ige). Letissier's voice lies somewhere between Lorde, Lykke Li and Soak, although the visceral sound still reminds of electro sweethearts Oh Wonder. The live male-suited persona, and the slick videos almost excuse the Jackson comparisons, although the whole package is more akin to a 21st Century re-construction of Laurie Anderson, with songs dealing defiantly with gender fluidity and anti-stereotyping. Jane Birkin or Charlotte Gainsbourg this certainly ain't. Buy this now, or wait for the inevitable French deluxe edition of the original release. Either way, you will not be disappointed. Magnifique.
9/10
