CD Reviews

Belinda Carlisle

Voilà | Rykodisc

By JEFF TAMARKIN | May 1, 2007

3.0 Stars

Belinda Carlisle is about as French as a bag of “freedom fries,” but for her first solo album in a decade the ex-Go-Go-turned-tabloid-fodder has gone all ooh-la-la. On Voilà, Carlisle, who has lived in both France and Britain since the mid ’90s, slips into the guise of a charmante chanteuse, dipping into the songbooks of Jacques Brel (“Ne me quitte pas”), Serge Gainsbourg (“Bonnie et Clyde,” “Contact”), Charles Aznavour (“Jezebel”), and their Parisian like. Just how credible her diction might be is a determination best left to those who speak the language — she credits both a French tutor and a vocal coach — but her command of the chanson is impressive. Carlisle and producer John Reynolds (recording in London, natch) balance the foundation of trad accordion, violin, and flamenco guitar with a fair amount of edgy electronics, Brian Eno is recruited to provide keyboard seasonings, and Natacha Atlas contributes vocal reinforcement to four tracks. Although a piece as iconic as Edith Piaf’s “La vie en rose,” to which she couldn’t possibly add a thing, is beyond Carlisle’s reach, and her Eurodisco take on “Des ronds dans l’eau” is more Blondie than Françoise Hardy, Carlisle has never sounded as comfortable within a persona as she does here. In fact, the bonus disc featuring four English-language versions is entirely superfluous.

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