Charlotte Gainsbourg
BIOGRAPHY
Charlotte Gainsbourg is undoubtedly top my list of people I’d like to share a bottle of wine with. And she should be yours as well. Not only happy with having what is probably the coolest family ever (her Papa, Serge Gainsbourg, was the man who, amongst many other musical achievements, wrote “the ultimate love song” - ‘Je T’aime… Moi Non Plus’ which featured simulated sounds of female orgasm and was subsequently denounced by The Pope), she has also worked with Michel Gondry on La Science Des Rêves (The Science of Sleep), been featured on Madonna’s song ‘What It Feels Like For a Girl’ and just recently won the Cannes Best Actress Award for her, ahem, brutally touching role in Lars Von Triers controversial but brilliant film Antichrist (Watch some here. Go on, I dare you.).
Oh, yeah, and she also makes music. Really good music. I almost forgot about that.
Her first record came out when she was just thirteen, and recent second album 5:55 featured songs written by the likes of Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon of the Divine comedy, and her new album is recorded and produced by Beck. No employer would ever believe such a ridiculous C.V. She definitely wouldn’t get offered a job at the local HMV.
But, just for a minute, sod the guest credits, family connections and weird art house films - most importantly, her new record is an absolute feast. Darkly melodic, haunting, bewitching and quite literally sweltering with the kind of smouldering sexiness that very few sane humans can handle without being sent into some kind of primal state where only rhythm and basic emotions are needed to function. She worked closely with Beck on the entire process, and it shows - the album is like an organism, it swells and breathes like a huge musical lung and never strays too far away from the innovation post. IRM is out on super-cool French label Because and can be streamed here. And we’re off to brush up on our French.
UPCOMING GIGS
Unfortunately the lady is keeping herself quite occupied with all her various hobbies, so no gigs as of yet. We’ll give you a shout when we find out.
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