FRANCOISE HARDY

FRANCOISE HARDY
LA PLUIE SANS PARAPLUIE (2010)
320 KBPS

Four years after her duets album (Parenthèles, 2006) and 6 after "Tant de Belles Choses", Françoise Hardy, THE French pop icon, returns with an album that could easily be summed up as a back to the basics outfit. Indeed, on "La Pluie Sans Parapluie" (Rain Without an Umbrella), Françoise recalls the ghosts of her past fame and produces a genuine pop album. Of course, the arrangements have been updated since the late 60s/early 70s but, still, it's the closest she ever sounded like she used to. To achieve that, she surrounded herself with a team of younger songwriters such as Alain Lubrano (with whom she's been collaborating for about 10 years), La Grande Sophie, Arthur H, Thierry Stremler, The Ben Christophers, Jean-Louis Murat and a few more. The result may not be up to the best she produced but falls pretty close which is more than I've been expecting in 2010. A nice album, really.

1. Noir sur blanc
2. Mieux le connaître
3. Champ d'honneur
4. La Pluie sans parapluie
5. Les Pas
6. Le Temps de l'innocence
7. Je ne vous aime pas
8. Esquives
9. Mister
10. Memory Divine
11. Un cœur éclaté
12. L'Autre côté du ciel
13. Les mots s'envolent