For “C’est Chic!”, the latest release in our recently launched HIQLP range, we hop over the Channel to France, epicentre of the 1960s yé-yé phenomenon. The album comprises a dozen hand-picked highlights from the top-selling all-girl CD of the same title, as issued to rave reviews on our newfangled Ace International logo a couple of years ago.
To quote one of many satisfied customers: “Absolutely infectious, frothy, frolicsome songs that will inspire earworm activity everywhere. As a consistent player on my CD tableau, this collection comes highly recommended for promoting happiness, giddiness and all good things conducive to long life. Definitely worth having if you want to hear excellent pop music that makes 45 years down the pike sound brand new. All you so-called pop divas out there should give this one a careful listen, because the musical craftsmanship of these pretty ditties is at the level of fine art. The singers, to a one, resonate with talent and verve. And that they’re all adorable French girls is an added bonus.”
Many of the foremost female vocalists to emerge from France during the 60s are featured, including ultra-chic cover girl France Gall, cult favourite Jacqueline Taïeb, top Gallic girl group Les Gam’s and iconic singer-songwriter Françoise Hardy. Of all the yé-yé girls, only the exquisite Françoise was afforded the privilege of consistent British releases throughout the 1960s. Her vast catalogue is so consistently excellent that almost any of her recordings could have graced this collection. The pragmatic fatalism of ‘Voilà’ clinched its inclusion. Also contained are two French-singing non-nationals: Danish actress Anna Karina and Cairo-born Liz Brady.
Songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, enfant terrible of the yé-yé generation, is represented by Anna Karina’s striking, almost punkish ‘Roller Girl’, the quasi-Spector ‘Non, A Tous Les Garçons’ by Michèle Torr and France Gall’s ‘Laisser Tomber Les Filles’. If the latter sounds familiar, you may have experienced it in a Tarantino soundtrack translated as ‘Chick Habit’ by arch Francophile April March.
Pressed on 180g blonde vinyl in heavy duty gatefold sleeve.
By Mick Patrick
