Gustafson is a duo formed by two actor friends, Adrien Bletton and Jean-Philippe Perras. A parallel project to their busy careers, but done seriously: Smile at the angels is their second album after The magnificent in 2021, and the duo continues to demonstrate a real sense of well-turned songwriting and (very) catchy melody.
From the moment I listened to the first piece, Symmetrywe know that we are dealing with an excellent product, carefully put together, with its suave pop and sensual brass arrangements. The rest is in keeping with it, romantic, intense, caressing.
There is something very “French” in this album, whether it is in the way Adrien Bletton sings, which is somewhat reminiscent of Jean-Louis Murat, a reference to the filmmaker Gaspar Noé or the atmosphere which sometimes evokes an old Claude Lelouch film (Your sparks).
“It makes me all sentimental/like in an Alain Souchon song “, they sing, but in fact, the whole album sounds a bit like a Souchon song – which is not negative in itself, there are worse references.
This approach to a well-made song is very classic, but Gustafson clearly has a desire not to sound dusty. Co-produced by Clément Leduc and Gabriel Gagnon, two musicians who collaborate on a host of projects alone or together, Smile at the angels broadcasts a well-rounded, elegant and refined electro pop.
We are directly here in the “adult contemporary” category of ADISQ, in the noble sense of a mature work… and proudly outside of fashions. Smile at the angels is not an album that shakes the cage, but “full” pleasant, that one listens to while sipping a spritz with friends, while the children run everywhere around. And it is perfect like that.
Song
Smile at the angels
Gustafson
Simone Records