As its name suggests, this is a collection of 9 singers each performing 2 of their songs. And 'chanson' is defined on the cover as: "urban / European / dark / witty / political / narrative / dramatic / romantic / acerbic — rarely danceable, always literate, grown-up songs for grown-up people."
I bought it from Des de Moor, when he sang last year at Islington Folk Club. It's a great club, just fifteen minutes walk from here, and it combines the best of traditional values (a capella songs from the floor, annual visits by Martin Carthy) with a very savvy interpretation of what counts as folk these days — including the likes of Des de Moor.
This CD includes some people I know and love — Philip Jeays, Barb Jungr, Robb Johnson, Leon Rosselson, and de Moor — with others I don't know — Harvey Andrews, Pete Atkin, Alan Clayson and Kath Tait. If there's a new discovery among the latter, it's probably Harvey Andrews, whose songs live up to the 'chanson' tag.
I'm not entirely convinced by that tag. The definition above covers anyone from Robert Wyatt to the Pet Shop Boys, and they don't call themselves chansonniers. What it really refers to is a group of people whose talents far outstrip the recognition they receive. Sometimes naming a 'scene' can help the careers of all participants break through. But now, I fear, the chanson scene, to those that are aware of it, "great singers and great songs up close in tiny venues". Very attractive for us; less so for the performers.
Russell Churney co-wrote two of the songs on this album (one of Barb Jungr's and one of Des de Moor's). He also plays on the song with Barb and another with Robb Johnson. Sadly he died of cancer at end of last month. Here's Des de Moor's tribute.
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