Patricia Kaas
Mademoiselle chante...

THE REVIEW

Born in 1966, originally from Lorraine, a region straddling the geographical and cultural border between France and Germany, Patricia Kaas is today an established star, not only in her home country but across much of continental Europe, with millions of records sold, prestigious collaborations (including this one, just to mention another name from my "roster") and significant experiences in cinema as well. In short, her name may be unknown to many of us, but we are talking about a singer who has carved out a space of absolute prominence and, judging from this first album, I would say with full merit. Chanson, cabaret, jazz-pop, things like that, vintage and very appealing: her discography also includes some cover albums, but she achieved success with original material, which constitutes the bulk of her production, which for this genre is not something to be taken for granted. "Mademoiselle Chante..." is a "special" debut, an authentic little gem also for two particular reasons: 1988 vintage, still the eighties though already waning, you can hear just enough and the "influences" are exclusively beneficial, and then at the time Patricia Kaas was just 22 years old, you can feel this a lot too; an emerging "diva," not yet arrived, determined to showcase her class but also a certain amount of youthful freshness that will inevitably be lost over the years.

If you are thinking of an album of languid torch songs or, worse, sickly-sweet ballads performed with the approach of a performer technically impeccable fresh out of the conservatory, then you're way off track, "Mademoiselle Chante..." is short, incisive, not lacking a certain "grit" and above all fun, its ultimate goal is entertainment, a light-hearted but characterful show, and very well staged; this makes it an excellent pop work in absolute terms, with an impeccable tracklist. The synths and saxes that, in moderation, make occasional appearances are quite eloquent, but this slight eighties aftertaste does not at all detract from the album's retro charm, on the contrary, it imparts more brilliance and dynamism, and then the then-young aspiring chanteuse has a powerful and charismatic vocality, which gives roughly the same sensations as biting into a slightly unripe peach: crunchy, fresh, intense, with that underlying tartness that deliciously tickles the palate. The young Patricia Kaas was like that, a performer of class and character, a great central figure, theatrical and imperious when necessary, also enhanced by songs and sounds fully in her wheelhouse. "Mon mec a moi" is a very impactful opener and single, a perfect introduction to appreciate the album's sound and atmospheres, very theatrical and evocative, the sumptuous "D'Allemagne" being the perfect example, then "Quand Jimmy dit", with its synth base and a very danceable flair, "Elle voulait jouer cabaret", more dreamy, with a refrain that offers one of the most evident demonstrations of Patricia Kaas' vocal power, and "Mademoiselle chante le blues", a sharp and sly single.

Then there are episodes that slightly expand the album's stylistic range, in my opinion the most intriguing ones, at least on first listen: "Vénus des abribus", seductive 80's bossanova,
"Des mensonges en musìque", a tango that echoes, even in the singing style and the spoken interlude, the legendary "I've Seen That Face Before" by Grace Jones, with fewer noir connotations but no less effective impact and "Souvenirs de l'Est", an affectionate piano/voice postcard with a crescendo ending that pays homage to the atmospheres and rural landscapes of her native region. Two short but evocative semi-acoustic interludes, "Un Dernier blues" and "Chanson d'amour pas finie", complete an absolutely impeccable album; for many, the five stars might seem inappropriate, but I don't see any valid reason to deny them, in its theatrical, retro, sumptuously arranged nature, a bit elegantly kitsch and nowadays also passé (which is anything but a bad thing), "Mademoiselle Chante..." is a record of exemplary simplicity, that entertains, amuses, and is fondly remembered. A great voice and memorable songs, that's all it takes to make an impression.