Nice to see a re-issue of Mick Harvey's two albums of English-language versions of the songs of Serge Gainsbourg, Intoxicated Man and Pink Elephants.Harvey, probably best known for his role in The Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds, released the two solo albums in 1995 and 1997.
Harvey released the albums after the other band he played in, Crime and the City Solution split. He now focuses on his solo career, having parted company with Nick Cave after playing alongside him for over 35 years.
Cave featues on the second of the two albums, with a version of Je t'aime... moi non plus (here entitled I love you...nor do I) featuring Anita Lane on Pink Elephants.
Across the two albums there's a very well selected choice of Gainsbourg's work, with sympathetic arrangements and translations that work well in English.
I feel the two albums never really got the recognition they deserved on their release, hopefully the re-issue and live performances will give them the attention that they merit.
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