A new album released today by Grand Corps Malade, with Il nous restera ça seeing France's favourite spoken-word slammer sharing the stage with some other big names.Fabien Marsaud as friends and fgamily might know him collaborates here with others including Charles Aznavour, as well as Ben Mazué, Fred Pellerin and Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine.
The collection includes a return of sorts for a genuine French music legend, with Renaud featuring on the track Ta batterie.
The return of Renaud to the microphone is not without its controversy, his text poetic but his words frail, health problems in recent years all but derailing one of France's most distinctive voices.
Renaud's last release was 2009's Molly Malone – Balade irlandaise collection. The release in recent years of the two La Bande à Renaud tribute albums, where young artists re-interpreted his work, has given a new generation of listeners an insight into his work.
But GCMS puts the focus of the album on the poetry, and the Renaud track in the context of the album is perfect. The variety of voices on the collection, some familiar some less so, gives it a broader scope than GCMs previous work.
The differing voices and styles could leave this collection too disparate to work, but under the not inconsiderable shadow of GCM it holds together well.
He's a big figure, and this latest step leaves quite an impression.
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