the young French song still has something to say

If some feared that the new French scene might fall asleep in a well-meaning variety, they should be reassured. The heirs of Brel, Brassens, Renaud, Béranger or Thiéfaine are there. In the wake of Gauvain Sers who continues to chart his course, other voices emerge like that of Gaëtan Henrion who has just released his first album Not so alone (Uni Sons / The Other Distribution / Believe) in October. And the least we can say is that he doesn’t have his tongue in his pocket!

The single Before we wake up, title which opens the album, draws up an uncompromising inventory of the current situation in our country. But rather than lament, Gaëtan Henrion calls on everyone to wake up to energetic music with folk and bluegrass accents. And several texts are imbued with this critical pen which does not mince words. You could almost feel a call for insurrection in Should not and his supercharged banjo, the JJ Calien Pull on the rope, anarchist pamphlet directly addressed to Emmanuel Macron, or Let it be which evokes a “facade democracy”.

The connections of power with the world of finance, the drifts of the political system towards corruption, or the hardening of security mechanisms, so many themes that Gaëtan Henrion addresses and criticizes in his songs.

And the story ofHumberto tells in first person the almost hopeless fate of a Mexican migrant. A situation that echoes all migrants around the world.

We think of Saez, Mano Solo and even Noir Désir by the straightforward frankness of the lyrics, but on music that looks more towards Yves Jamait or Sanseverino.

Mainly acoustic, the arrangements favor guitars and piano and offer atmospheres between folk and gypsy jazz. A slightly Django swing atmosphere that can be heard for example in Jenny and justin, as well as in Unnecessary ceremony but this time in the waltz mode.

Impossible not to think about The non-marriage proposal de Brassens while listening to this text. An obvious homage by a modern reinterpretation of a great classic by the poet from Sète. And the affiliation with Tonton Georges or Renaud transpires in several songs. Because the often rebellious pen of Gaëtan Henrion also gives pride of place to humor. Liters of schools begins with replicas of Gabin in A monkey in winter, and I don’t like people displays an assumed misanthropy, but be careful, only with regard to unpleasant people … “There are, I don’t even know why I don’t like them, but it’s surely their fault”. Bad faith intelligently turned into self-mockery.

Humor, vindictive energy, transgressive poetry, and even a semblance of slam in a piece hidden at the very end of the disc, a joyful parchwork that Gaëtan Henrion presents as “Sizzling French Song”. Music that will undoubtedly do much more than sizzle very quickly. An artist to follow very closely.

‘Not so alone’ by Gaëtan Henrion was released on October 8 on Uni Sons / L’Autre Distribution / Believe

Find all the information on his Facebook Page or Website