la Maison Tellier - Primitifs Modernes

What a beautiful oxymoron! Primitive, and modern. No less! It at least takes that to describe this singular band (oxymoron too). And these only 2 words coming from singer Helmut Tellier’s imagination were the starting point of this 6th album. Let’s listen.

Honestly, it rocks ("Les Apaches", "Primitifs Modernes"). Or else it starts quietly... to develop the strength of a crescendo ("Prima Notte").
The tracks go by and I say to myself this album contains a bloody bunch of good songs, with a devilish efficiency. I even easily imagine almost each one could become a hit if it were properly pushed.

Besides we’re given real good words, with a lot of punchlines, cunnings, stunts and hijacked phrases.
Teenage years are a several-times broached topic. And combine Louis De Funès with sex ("La Horde") was risky indeed! Other unexpected rhymes can be found too.

The lyrics include references from literature (Jean Genet as it seems, Shakespeare, Paul Éluard) or from rock music (Neil Young).
For it may be their least folk album. Just a few aromas ("Tout Est Pardonné", "Je Parle d'un Pays") remind of the previous opus. As for the rest, even though the trumpet is still there – it’s part of the band identity - Raoul Tellier’s guitar, mostly electrified, sets the tone. Rock and pop.
By the bye a track like "Ali" almost sounds like Matmatah. Especially the solo.

In short, Primitifs Modernes is a damned divine album. Again an oxymoron.