Customer Reviews

Entr'Acte

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This is probably one of Francoise Hardy's least appreciated albums. Originally released in 1974, Entr'Acte has a charming folk rock melody throughout with the french chanteuse taking a turn for the soulful as she asserts her sexuality lyrically. The opening track, Ce Soir, comes at you with a bluesy 70s riff as Francoise contemplates her impending date with a man she "wants to please" but knows she will be "ill at ease." The chorus is strong and heartfelt with Francoise swerving around the notes with her sultry voice. Another great track from the album is "Je N'Aime Pas Ce Qu'il Dit" (I Don't Like What He Says), which is a semiautobiographical response to the infidelity of her then lover and future husband. It begins with a disarmingly simple folk driven melody but quickly develops into a richly orchestrated and interesting piece of work. As with the opener, Francoise shines out vocally, grooving like a world-wise and understated Janis Joplin. As the singer explains herself, the album was like a cathartic journal entry that, once recorded, never needed any more of her attention. But thankfully, we get to have our own opinion on the matter. I'll be listening to this quiet, folk rock gem with a twist of soul for years to come.

This is the most introspective and withdrawn of all Francoise Hardy albums and as she is introspective and withdrawn at the most ebullient of times then we are well into Nick Drake territory. This is appropriate because the album was recorded not long after Francoise had tried to get Drake to write songs for her. He never did so due to a massive creative block and died (probably by his own hand) the year "Entr'Acte" came out. It clearly reflects his influence, notably in Francoise's sotto voce singing. She suggests rather than sings the melodies, rendering them almost ineffable and necessitating a number of listens before you get them. The arrangements surrounding her are more outgoing - there are quite beefy drums and sometimes overblown accompaniment - but Francoise adamantly refuses to come to the party. It's as if she's shutting herself away. Like Drake, she doesn't sound particularly sad or depressed, just insular and distant. A couple of the songs finish on unresolved progressions and the entire album has an aimless and hazy quality about it. There are several exquisite songs here: particularly entrancing is the dream-like "Bonjour, Bonsoir" which I think is one of her greatest recordings but "Merveilleux" and "Je Te Cherche" are also beautiful. There are a couple of clunkers: the opener" Ce Soir" has a lazy 70's rock snoozathon backing and a truly banal chorus while the closing number "Que Vas-Tu Faire" is bombastic despite Francoise's attempts to keep it subtle.
If you like Francoise you should like this but it's not the first port of call for newcomers. Begin with "Ma Jeunesse Fout Le Camp", "Comment Te Dire Adieu", or "la Question"; then "Star" or the early Vogue stuff. Only after that get this one.