Best of 2022:Stromae "Multitude" (2022)

Multitude

release date: Mar. 4, 2022

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,26]

producer: Stromae

label: Mosaert Label / Universal - nationality: Belgium

Track highlights: 1. "Invaincu" - 2. "Santé" (4, 5 / 5) - 3. "La Solassitude" - 4. "Fils de joie" - 5. "L'enfer" (5 / 5) - 8. "Riez" (4, 5 / 5) - 9. "Mon amour" - 10. "Déclaration"

3rd studio album by Stromae following almost 9 full years after Racine Carrée (Aug. 2013) - a time of both international acclaim and personal turmoil. Stromae went on long tours in the US and in Africa, and then had to pull the plug from performing to recover again. Apparently, he suffered from anxiety and spent a long time rethinking his career. He only resurfaced again in 2021 with his first single from this album, the song "Santé".

Racine Carrée was a step forward from a promising debut and was a massive success - it's really no wonder that the skyrocketing success he has experienced is something that may be more than overwhelming, and with Multitude he not only does it again - he simply takes another step forward. The single "L'enfer" was played everywhere, and I first thought of it as merely another pop song, but it's so much more than just that. Stromae himself is the result of a mixed marriage, but his musical style is a gigantic mix of Euro-pop, American R&B, African and Asian popular music, AND with obvious bits of folkore from all over the world - yet, his music is styled to just fit his expression. All the global influences are destilled into a personal and strict sound that doesn't make you question its coherency.

At first, I found that this new album contained roughly 2-3 great songs but soon more kept surfacing, and here at the end of the year, I think of it as THE best album of the year without a single filler. And of course, it's highly recommended.

[ NME 4 / 5, Pitchfork 8,0 / 10 stars ]

2022 Favourite releases: 1. Stromae Multitude - 2. Hurray for the Riff Raff Life on Earth - 3. Big Thief Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

Best of 2013:Stromae "Racine carrée" (2013)

Racine carrée

release date: Aug. 19, 2013

format: 2 lp (gatefold) (orange vinyl) / 2 lp vinyl (2026 reissue) (gatefold)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,16]

producer: Stromae with various others

label: Mosaert / Island France / Universal - nationality: Belgium

Track highlights: 1. "Ta fête" - 2. "Papaoutai" - 3. "Bâtard" - 4. "Ave Cesaria" - 5. "Tous les mêmes" (live) - 6. "Formidable" (live on KEXP) - 7. "Moules frites" - 8. "Carmen" - 9. "Humain à l'eau" - 10. "Quand c'est?" - 11. "Sommeil" - 12. "Merci" - 13. "AVF" (feat. Maître Gims & Orelsan) (live)

[ full album live ]

2nd studio album by Stromae following 3 years after the acclaimed Cheese (Jun. 2010) is like that produced by Stromae himself and released on his own label Mosaert via Universal Music France. And 'produced by himself' this time means co-producing with various others. Only Thomas Azier is co-producer on 3 tracks, Aron Ottignon co-producer on 2 tracks, and then follows 13 other artists as co-producers on individual tracks. I guess, Stromae perhaps wanted a more multi-facetted sound on this compared to the strict and more simplistic debut, although, he's still very much in charge of everything.

All songs and music are credited Stromae except three tracks: tracks #4, #8, and #13 are co-composed by Orelsan (aka French rapper Aurélien Cotentin), and track #13 also with Maître Gims (aka Congolese-French rapper Gandhi Alimasi Djuna). The title of the album is French for 'Square-root', which is underlined on the front cover with the symbol '√x' - something that suggests an exploration of his own roots, musically, and with regards to his identity - ultimately, pointing at circumstances and influences that has formed him as an artist and as a human being.

Cheese came out as an international monster hit debut selling Platinum and Gold in a number of countries and making it to number #1 in Belgium, number #6 in France, and Stromae went from quite anonymous to world famous with one single album. Racine carrée follows closely in the footsteps of the predecessor and it contains some of the same identifiable originality that he laid out three years earlier, and then it adds to his characteristica. Musically, it's a stunning accomplishment to par and even better the great debut with something that more than equals and proves his worth as composer, songwriter and arranger by showcasing new dimensions to his talent. The album is filled to the brim with dance-oriented tracks and hooks and then he continues his speciality by mixing chanson with club & dance. Lyrically, this appears to be filled with a critical perspective on modern life, racism, personal relationships, and more. It's all-encompassing in what appears as another exceptional album. He speaks about so many things here that makes it near extreme. He narrates about SoMe, about a poisonous relationsship, a note on cancer, a reminder about mixed races, a song about pretention, and a song about how the human race appears to have evolved beyond what's reasonable, there's a hommage to Cesária Évora, a song about his father... Every song matters and it works on so many levels that it leaves you almost speechless. What a gifted artist!

Strongest recommendation.

[ allmusic.com, Metro 4 / 5, Télérama 4 / 4 stars ]

Edit 2026:

The 2026 reissue is a double vinyl album with 3 tracks on each side but with the exclusion of the final track "AVF" for reasons unknown. The song appears in the original issue of the album. Nothing has been declared regarding the omission. Guesses are basically two-fold: 1) it's about credits as the song is co-composed by the two artists Maître Gims and Orelsan - the latter is also co-writer of track #4, and supposed conflict of interest is the presence of Maître Gims, who has been subject of several controversies, which releates to plagiarism, homophofia, and most recently: he has been subjected to investigations regarding money laundering. I think, Stromae simply wanted to cut the connection by leaving out a track involving Gims. 2) Perhaps the main reason is that the song doesn't represent what Stromae is all about. The title 'AVF' is short for 'Allez vous faire!', which means 'Go fuck yourself!' / 'Fuck you!" and alone that makes much sense sinse the lyrical content of the song doesn't coinside with the other songs on his album, or any other album by Stromae - this is simply not part of his artistic identity. The really bad thing is that it's musically one of the fine ones on the album.

2013 Favourite releases: 1. Stromae Racine carrée - 2. Arctic Monkeys AM - 3. Tindersticks Across Six Leap Years

Stromae "Cheese" (2010)

Cheese [debut]

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).

[Stromae presentation of the album]

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 ]

Jacques Brel "Brel (aka Les marquises)" (1977)

Brel (aka Les marquises)

release date: Nov. 17, 1977

format: vinyl (gatefold)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,77]
producer: ? (rec. by Gerhard Lehner)

label: Barclay - nationality: Belgium

Track highlights: A) 1. "Jaurès" - 2. "La ville s'endormait" - 3. "Vieillir" - 4. "Le bon Dieu" - - B) 1. "Les remparts de Varsovie" - 2. "Voir un ami pleurer" - 4. "Jojo" - 6. "Les Marquises"

14th and final studio album by Jacques Brel following five years after Ne me quitte pas (Sep. 1972), which is made up of new recordings of Brel's most famous songs making this his first album with new material in 9 years.

Zap Mama "ReCreation" (2009)

ReCreation
release date: May 26, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Studio album by Zap Mama is a another style fusion album by this interesting singer. The music here is a capella, neo-pop soul, r&b, world, lounge, vocal jazz, synthpop... the variety is there! I think it's too messy, too mixed up and without direction. It's not better than her 2007 release but even more varied. I think she could be more direct in her style.

Zap Mama "Supermoon" (2007)

Supermoon
release date: Aug. 7, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Zap Mama has released albums since the debut, Zap Mama in 1991. She's obviously inspired by African music - this one is however, more contemporary neo-soul and r&b, although one may hear world and / or African style on several tracks, and a few are almost entirely much more African world, like: track #8. "Gati", and track #9. "Kwenda". Also, there's vocal jazz inspiration on some of the slower tracks. It's really not bad, it's just not unforgettable.

Zap Mama

~ ~ ~

Zap Mama: born (1964) in Isiro, Haut-Uele District, Democratic Republic of the Congo to a Belgian father (killed same year she was born) and a local Bantu mother, who was evacuated to Belgium; aka: Marie Daulne [birth name]; aka Zap Mama, or: Zap Marie.

~ ~ ~

Jacques Brel "Les bourgeois" (1962)

Les bourgeois
release date: Apr. 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Les bourgeois" (4 / 5) - 2."Les paumés du petit matin" (3,5 / 5) - 6. "Madeleine" (5 / 5) - 7. "Bruxelles" (4 / 5) - 9. "Les biches" (4,5 / 5) - 11. "La statue" (3,5 / 5)

6th studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka "Jacques Brel 6". It was reissued on Barclay as part of the 2003 remaster box set Boîte à Bonbons. The album is yet another fine release with lyrics and music by Brel, or co-written with primarily Gérard Jouannest (track #3), François Rauber (track #3), or Jean Corti (track #2). The best track here is "Madeleine" written by Brel, Corti and Jouannest, and it's one of many modern classics by Brel. The album contains some of his strongest compositions and is one of his finest albums.

Best of 1962:Jacques Brel "Olympia 61" (1962) (live)

Olympia 61 (live)
release date: 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Les bourgeois" - 3. "Les paumés du petit matin" - 4. "Les Flamandes" - 5. "La statue" - 7. "Marieke" - 8. "Les biches" - 9. "Madeleine" - 12. "La valse á mille temps" - 12. "Ne me quitte pas" - 14. "Le moribond" - 15. "Quand on n'a que l'amour"

Live album by Jacques Brel released by Philips Records and recorded Oct. 27–29, 1961 at l'Olympia in Paris. The album is a marvelous live recording showcasing the skills of Brel at the peak of his career.

1962 Favourite releases: 1. Jacques Brel Olympia 61 - 2. Chet Baker Chet Is Back! - 3. Dexter Gordon Go

Jacques Brel "Marieke" (1961)

Marieke
release date: 1961
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

5th studio album by Jacques Brel aka "Jacques Brel 5" released on Philips. The album consists of tracks composed by either Brel alone (5 tracks), Brel together with conductor François Rauber (two tracks), or Brel with Gérard Jouannest (8 tracks). The album contains some of his most well-known compositions: "Marieke", "Le moribond", "On n'oublie rien", "Le prochain amour", "Les prénoms de Paris", and "Les singes". The track "Le moribond" was transleated by Rod McKuen and covered by Canadian singer / songwriter Terry Jacks as "Seasons in the Sun" and that version became a big international hit in 1974.

Jacques Brel "La valse à mille temps" (1959)

La valse à mille temps
release date: 1959
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "La valse à mille temps" (5 / 5) live - 4. "Je t'aime" - 5. "Ne me quitte pas" (4 / 5) - 6. "Les flamandes" (4 / 5) - 10. "La colombe"

4th full-length studio album by Jacques Brel aka "Jacques Brel 4". Like many of his early albums this release is just a self-titled album but is also known as "La valse à mille temps" (taken from the first track). I also enjoy his three earlier albums from the '50s but this particular album is considered one of his best ever original releases, and his first big hit album. It's his second release featuring the great French conductor François Rauber with whom Brel wrote two of the original 10 songs, although, the album's strongest tracks are written by Brel only.

Jacques Brel "Au printemps" (1958)

Au printemps
release date: 1958
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Au printemps" - 3. "Je ne sais pas" - 4. "Le colonel" - 8. "L'homme dans la cité?" - 9. "Litanies pour un retour"

3rd studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka "Jacques Brel 3". This is another great album by Brel mostly consisting of his own compositions but also introducing 5 songs co-written with François Rauber who is also credited as orchestral conductor (tracks #2–3, #8–9, and #11–12) alongside André Popp (tracks #1, #4, #7, #10, and #13). The original lp contains tracks #1-10, with tracks #11-13 being bonus tracks on the 2003 remaster issued on Barclay Records as part of the 16-disc box set Boîte à Bonbons.

Jacques Brel "Quand on n'a que l'amour" (1957)

Quand on n'a que l'amour
release date: 1957
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Quand on n'a que l'amour" - 2. "Qu'avons-nous fait, bonnes gens?" - 3. "Les pieds dans le ruisseau" - 5. "La bourrée du célibataire" - 7. "Saint-Pierre" - 8. "J'en appelle"

2nd studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka 'Jacques Brel 2'. As the debut, this consists of compositions written by Brel (except track #4 co-written with Jacques Vigouroux). And much like the debut, this hardly contains superfluous songs - and the album itself is quite remarkable. Orchestra conductors here are: André Popp on tracks #1 and #4-10, Michel Legrand on #2-3, and François Rauber is credited on track #11 (which is an alternate recording of track #1) on the 2003 remaster cd edition.

Jacques Brel "Jacques Brel et ses chansons" (1954)

Jacques Brel et ses chansons [debut]

release date: 1954

format: cd (2003 remaster)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Tracks (org. album): 1. "La haine" - 2. "Grand Jacques (C'est trop facile)" - 3. "Il pleut (Les carreaux)" - 4. "Le diable (ça va)" - 5. "Il peut pleuvoir" - 6. "Il nous faut regarder" - 7. "Le fou du roi" - 8. "C'est comme ça" - 9. "Sur la place"

Studio album debut album by Jacques Brel aka 'Grand Jacques'. The tracks #1-9 represent the original vinyl lp recorded at Théâtre de L'Apollo, Feb. 15, 1954. The cd-version consists of 15 tracks, of which tracks #10-15 are bonus tracks on the 2003 remaster 'Velours Box Set', which is a part of the extensive 16-disc box set, Boîte à Bonbons. Aside Brel himself, the album also offers examples of the arrangements by André Grassis' (tracks #1-9). All compositions from the original album except two by Glen Powell are all credited Brel.

This first one out may not contain a long list of great classics but it still showcases Brel's gifts as songwriter, composer, and not least: singer.