Gaël Faure - Regain

Gaël Faure has the grace. You don’t know why, but does it matter? He’s got it, that’s all. You can see it, you can feel it. And of course you can hear it.
His previous album, De Silences en Bascules, acoustic and homogeneous, had left me dissatisfied, and I hadn’t managed to go beyond the accomplished "Tu Me Suivras", his moderate success.
This time he asserts himself more through a richer album, more varied, between classy pop and elegant chanson. With ease and subtlety.

On the sleeve he poses upright like a painter in front of his painting, a real patchwork of sensations. And since I love playing the little game of resemblances, let’s start.
"Colibri" (tribute to his grandpa) owns a guitar rhythm and a sound that wouldn’t mar a Fred Métayer’s album.
If "Le Goût des Choses" vaguely reminds of Axelle Red’s "Rester Femme", it’s only because of its arrangement, very sober. Otherwise, you get carried away, suspended till the final “Quand c'est toi...” High wire (especially at 1:03). Absolute gem!
Whereas the more pop tracks like "La Belle Échappée" evoke Florent Marchet, and "Quelque Chose sur la Lune" the hopping casualness of some Mathieu Boogaerts, how is it possible not to think of Yodelice as soon as he starts folker things, and in English, signed by Piers Faccini ("Only Wolves")?
The album ends simply with "Traverser l'Hiver", a guitar-voice bossa nova, of which the intonations make me think of Vianney this time.
Let me stop my comparisons – is it clearer for you? – and go further into the introspection of the album.

A meticulous sound from the intros ("La Saison", "Colibri"). A certain melodic effectiveness, especially in the choruses ("La Belle Échappée", "Caractère", "Siffler", "Les Visages Officiels" etc.) Some renowned co-signatures from the young generation (well, not that young now): so Piers Faccini, but also Bastien Lallemant, Pierre Souchon, Ours, Chet, Raphaële Lannadère, Benoît Dorémus.
A dominating guitar, mostly acoustic, but regularly with a drums-bass-keyboards-b.v. support. And obviously a pure clear beautiful voice, airy when needed.

But don’t count on him for extravagance, for eccentricity or for exaggeration. No shout, no coloratura, no electric guitar solo, no extra note, no extra minute. Just natural, just pleasant, just beautiful. That must be grace.