Customer Reviews

Living Room

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There aren't words in English to describe this album. The blend of traditional jazz with gypsy melodies is superb and Belle Du Berry's singing is just the icing on the cake.

The album begins with "Living Room" which would have to be one of my all-time favorite songs in any style. What's more, it just never drops off from this level for the rest of the album.

"Homeron" is another track more than worth the price of the album - in fact, the intro to "Homeron" is worth the price. Then there's "Senor", "Je Sui Sourde" and so on. There is no such thing as a weak track here.

I don't speak a word of French and neither do my friends (we're all 16 year olds) and yet we're always singing along to Madame Du Berry and pretending to be very cool indeed. "Cool" is, after all, the word to describe this album. Quite often during exams I'll find myself coming home, putting on this CD and just relaxing and forgetting about what's going on (not neccessarily a good thing if I also forgot the stuff I knew for the exams).

Before I got into Paris Combo, I used to rubbish jazz but believe me when I say that this is what it should be like. If you close your eyes while listening to this, you can almost see yourself in a smoky bar in the 1920s - possibly with private detectives milling around in trenchcoats. Mood music indeed.

Every single instrument is played to virtuoso level here. Belle sings like an angel, the bass and drums are done superbly, same goes for the trumpets and horns. For my money, David Lewis carries some of the songs with his trumpet solos. Of course, I might just be saying that because Lewis is a former Australian - but even so, without that knowledge it's very hard to fault him.

One of the best policies when listening to this is, if you don't speak French, forget about the words. A friend of mine was amazed that they were singing about "someone's living room" as she put it - I don't know what they are singing about but it hardly matters.

In short, buy this album. There's something here for most people and even if there isn't something specifically for you, you'll know someone who'll love it. C'est Magnifique!!

This is an excellent CD to have, but before you click to add this item to your shopping cart, I must, to keep my conscience, warn you that this CD is not only horrendously addictive, but may cause acute hallucinations that you're sipping wine in an intimate yet incredibly chic, tucked-away Parisian nightclub.

Take my case, for example. I have played these 12 tracks continuously for the past 2 weeks, and I have kept #6 (Pas a Pas) on repeat for 1/4 of that time (and imagined I possessed the talent to think of singing that never-failingly cool intro.) The lyrics are irrelevantly relevant, slyly clever, but I do not believe that not understanding French would detract from one's enjoyment. It is, afterall, rhythm that is built into the human subconscious, and the soul of Paris Combo lies in the quintet's talent of smooth, well-timed beats. My particular favorites include the quirkily cautionary "Living Room," the upbeat yet sad "Senor," the softly haunting "Sous la Lune," the drily humorous, swinging "Ubiquite," and of course, "Pas a Pas." I do have a professed weakness for all things French, but especially with this CD, I think I can display good reason for being such a Francophile.

I really enjoy this CD for a fun loungy sound when I'm not in the mood for mainstream music. I would say if you like Pink Martini, you could well like this one.

What can I say ... Superb band, great album. What a discovery... Heard them live in Seattle at Bumbershoot festival purely by accident and was promptly blown away by their skill and taste. By the end of the show they really had the people going. They had to do a couple of encores and seemed a bit overwhelmed. I don't think the band expected such a response. The bass guy even taped the audience with a videocam.

If you love their records you must see them live. Belle du Berry has an amazingly expressive voice (also great playful stage presence) and David Lewis's improvisation work is incredible and fun (how about a trumpet solo in a bucket of water on 'Sous la lune'). Plus there is cool Potzi... The whole band is just great - amazing range, fantastic songs (damn, they make it look so easy...) They are jazzy, spicy and fun but can also be deeply melancholic and moody. Just perfect for me.

Incidently, at the show, we met a girl who had a crash on Potzi and followed the band thru the whole US 2000 tour. It's good to know they already have fans here :)

This is a great album. ok CD. I saw the video of Living Room on World Link TV and have been hooked on this band every since. I don't know any French, but I can put this CD on- drive through 45 minutes of Houston, TX rush hour traffic and still be in a good mood.

10 stars CD!

i stumbled on this group about a month ago (4/01) while listening to french radio over the internet brushing up on my french. their inventive musical style and polished sound takes you to a higher musical plane. you don't have to know french to enjoy their music, but it would help in understanding the quirky lyrics. belle du barry has an exceptional voice that's backed up with a first rate group. they're back in the u.s. & canada starting in september (2001) and i'm definitely going to see them! ....

This wonderful album should be considered by all kinds of music lovers - from Classical music lovers to Jazz buffs to those who have started to become a little bored with Pop/Rock music!
Paris Combo, on this album, features wonderful and stylish vocals [from Belle, the sing/songwriter], very attractive and never bland instrumental accompaniments and the songs themselves are full of style and characer.

Along with the self-titled "Paris Combo" album, this is clearly my favourite so far! However, ALL of the Paris Combo albums are excellent and I enjoy hearing them at any time of the day or night.

I am a fan.

This is definately the best Paris Combo cd out there that I've heard. Sure "attraction" is a great cd, but it is just not as good as "Living-Room". The cd is in French and how can you go wrong?

It doesn't matter whether or not you speak French, since Paris
Combo's music is universal in style. You have heard the chanteuse influence in countless TV shows and movies. It is part
of our cultural subconscious and this band taps into that with
their upbeat, infectious music. It just works on all levels.
The rhythms capture your attention, the voice of the lead singer
is smooth and sensual, with a net effect of smiles and pleasure
for the listener.

I first heard these guys when I travelled to France Two years ago, and have followed them since. I haven't heard a song from them that wasn't good in its own right. I'm still discovering new things about the music as I listen to it two years later, and I still love it just as much. This is rare for me. I highly recommend adding these albums to your collection.