Brigitte Fontaine - Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme

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Track List: Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme

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Album Details: Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme

Release Date:: 01/01/1974
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From AMG Reviews

Fontaine, who started out sounding like a more adventurous version of Francoise Hardy, got steadily further out as the 1970s progressed. By the time of this recording, she was arguably too far out to even be categorized as a popular singer. Collaborating with songwriter Areski (who also takes some of the vocals, both alone and in partnership with Fontaine), this odd assortment of tracks includes pieces in which sing-song lyrics are done a cappella or backed by nothing more than an instrument or two (not always guitar); dissonant jazz-avant-garde miniatures that could serve as soundtrack material for suspense thrillers, occasionally overlaid with spoken poetry; and highly rhythmic cuts in which African drumming-like percussion patterns support Fontaine and Areski's experimental vocalizing, which can sound like bird noises or early New York "new music" exercises at times. It's not without its folky and melodic elements (particularly in some of Fontaine's singing), but it's tough listening, and not especially rewarding. This is due more to Areski's unattractively gruff and brusque vocals than Fontaine; to quote from the book of the jealous husband, he is not worthy of her. Confusingly, although the front of the sleeve bills this as a Fontaine album with the title Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme, the spine and back cover bill it to "Areski et Brigitte Fontaine," and the back cover gives the title Fontaine 4.

- Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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Brigitte Fontaine Biography

French singer Brigitte Fontaine made a series of increasingly strange and eclectic art-pop in the 1970s that gathered a lot of acclaim in France, although she remains obscure to an international audience. Initially she was an eccentric but accessible...Full Brigitte Fontaine Biography