Customer Reviews

Jacques

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Jacques is one of Marc Almond's more difficult albums. If youare not familiar with his torching abilities, nor his semi-gothicsounds from the mid to late 80's, this is probably not the best CD to introduce you it. For all others who have heard Torment and Toreros, from his Mamba days or Absinthe- the French album released around 1994, this CD is a gold mine of covers. Two tracks: If You Go Away, and The Bulls are remakes of earlier versions he sang on Marc and Mambas "Untitled" and Marc and Mambas "Torment and Toreros". My personal favorites on this CD are: The Devil (Okay), We Must Look, Litany for a Return, If You Go Away, and The Town Fell Asleep. These tracks are rich with ochestration and sombre vocals- Probably the most melodic tracks on the CD itself. Other tracks such as "The Lockman" is sung in a plaintive, aching a cappella and "Next" is sung with bitterness and contempt towards war, love, and disease. BYT- Gavin Friday also covers this Jacques Brel song on his first Solo LP "Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves". If you like Jacques, you might be interested in hunting that album out also, although I think it is out of print now. Anyway this album takes some getting used to but once given the chance you will find that Torching is not an only feminine quality. Marc does it with sincerity, and at all costs. END

Although Scott Walker preserved the cerebral power of Brel's music Marc Almond crystalizes the lurid atmosphere that is the back streets of Europe. Moreover, despite the fly-by-night production, Almond's voice, originality and talent still shine through which is what makes this record a must. His choice of material and the way in which he treats it with what little resources were at his disposal is a testament to his ability as a true artist and a master interpreter of traditional music.

Translating Jacques Brel into English and keeping his intent couldn't have been an easy task. Still, Marc Almond has managed to keep the "torch" in each and every track.

TOO FABULOUS!!!