release date: Jun. 21, 2010
format: cd / vinyl (2022 reissue) (gatefold)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,02]
producer: Mosaert
label: Mosaert / Vertigo / Mercury / Universal - nationality: Belgium
Track highlights: 1. "Bienvenue chez moi" - 2. "Te quiero" - 3. "Peace or Violence" (4 / 5) - 4. "Rail de musique" - 5. "Alors on danse" (5 / 5) (live) - 6. "Summertime" - 7. "Dodo" - 8. "Silence" - 10. "House'llelujah" - *12. "Alors on danse (90's remix)"
*Bonus track on CD and vinyl (first time on vinyl in 2014).
Studio album debut by Belgian electronic artist Stromae (aka Mosaert, aka Maestro, aka Paul Van Haver) formerly known as Opsmaestro. The full album debut follows several single releases and the self-released four track ep debut Juste un cerveau, un flow, un fond et un mic… (2007). From early on, Stromae wanted to be in full control of his music and together with brother Luc he established the production label Mosaert (one of several anagrams for Maestro).
Cheese is mostly electronic dance but since Stromae appears to be influenced by Belgian chanson, African music as such and world music in general, there are traits from other styles and genres to be found on an album that still holds up as something almost extremely coherent, thanks to Stromae's sense for arranging and also his unique vocal.
I did not come across the album until a few years later and after listening to the major hit song "Alors on danse" via the satiric sketch video by French actor and comedian Jamal Debbouze.
Cheese is a wonderful and strong debut on which Stromae showcases his speciality concerning subjects and themes. On a superficial level, his music and songs are playful and full of joy and positivity - related to the dance genre - but his lyrics are quite opposite and deals with injustice, prejudice, poverty, discrimination, and personal conflict - a formula he has continued ever since.
Cheese is Stromae's third best album - in a total of three, which may not seem impressive but when this first came out, it was great. It still is.
Highly recommended.
[ 👎allmusic.com, 👎The Guardian 3 / 5, Album of the Year 4 / 5 stars ]
