Hear The Track Here
In case you run away with the impression that musician Amadeo L. Gauthier is a new name to us, t'ain't true ya damn varmints. In fact I have reviewed some of the tracks from this album before, but under a plain Amadeo name. That overview featured the track Going To Baton Rouge (June 2008) and that was one of the tracks sent to me this time too, but I can always listen to it again and again. The reason for this is because it's a flawless piece of American story-telling with such down home authenticity you can taste the dust at the back of your throat.Une Chanson d'Amour is a 'cross-genre, multi-media musical album, film, and theatrical performance', what we oldies used to refer to as a concept album, writ large of course. The story is 'set during the great depression, and is an 11 track blues, folk, rock, and jazz opera which tells the story of an aspiring blues singer that winds up trading his soul at a crossroads in Mississippi in exchange for fame and fortune' All very Robert Johnson even. Walking With The Devil is a new track to be but has all the ingredients that made Going To Baton Rouge such a standout. The tone and tenor of the music is definitely influenced by New Orleans...and that's fine by me.
So, it's the blues then that is the primary influence but the music does a bit more than that as Maggie Le Fay shows, he can exhibit a fine pair of jazz heels too. Again, the most surprising thing is the sophistication and performance, all of a ridiculously high standard, even down to the 1940's doo-wop girlie backing vocals. Everything changes on Ave Maria with the welcome addition of a vocalist (singing in French) and a classical number that contrasts strikingly with the blue element so prevalent on other tracks. What all six tracks showed me is that as well being a terrific songwriter, he has a fairly wide range of styles and sounds to draw from. Interesting it will be, to see how this develops...
Highly Recommended, highly professional, and a treat for the ears.
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