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PRESS ECHOES 

CHARDEAU
The Magical Musical Man

There is who we are, what we believe to be, the image we send to others and how others perceive you. Sometimes with surprising differences. Over the titles, journalists find in Chardeau's latest album a "West Coast" side (it was recorded in Los Angeles), Steely Dan (class!), Even Michael Franks (not to be confused with Franck Michael!) on certain titles, or, more generally, a Chicago influence (and for good reason, it has been his favorite group for ages). But the most surprising, it is the comparisons, influences or reminiscences that journalists find him on the French side (Chardeau only sings in the language of Molière). Collage - and depending on the title: Polnareff, Bashung, Gainsbourg, Nino Ferrer, Thiéfaine, Pierre Vassiliu, Balavoine, Michel Jonasz or William Sheller…

 

Everyone sees or listens to what they want (which is also not to displease them). Whereas, even if he sings in French, Chardeau does not feel he belongs to the “French song”, apart from Nougaro. Its hexagonal references are rather on the side of Magma. Others find it difficult to locate it and perceive it as an "unidentified musical object". Atypical, singular, that's for sure. In a context where, today, 'artists are expected to stand out from the crowd (it is the professionals of the profession who repeat it) and that they stand out - more than ever - by a real singularity, with Chardeau, you are served!

As in the Aflelou ad… it is foooouuuuu this Chardeau! With a dozen albums to his credit, this Californian sound fan offers us "Fauves & Pastels", his latest whimsical project with offbeat influences from Michael Franks and Polnareff.

 

He is certainly not very handsome Chardeau, but fortunately he has many other assets; and at the top of the list his little grain of madness which happily distinguishes him from all his congeners on the borders of rock and French songs. Like Vassiliu's song, we can just ask ourselves "Who is this one?" ". The olibrius is not his first attempt and already has about ten albums to his credit, with a clear penchant for California, which brings him even closer to the author of "Qui a killed grandma? ". Chardeau is also the descendant of Gustave Caillebotte, the leader of the Impressionists. His rock is a little cracked, he has been cultivating it since the turn of the 90's in compositions as warm as they are whimsical.

 

California dream

 

Take the unstoppable “Ma Psychiatre” which sounds like a Steely Dan hit, but in French in the text. Sometimes Polna with "Black Rama" - it almost sounds like "LNA" - and "Girl from Alicante", sometimes Bashung with "L'amour Rome antique" or the crisp "Traveling Travelo", Chardeau also plays his Michael Franks with a swing cool sunny ("Just one" and "Ouch Ouch Ouch"). Made in USA, in a studio in Massachusetts, to make this “Fauves & Pastels” he recruited some luxury sharks, including Robert Lamm, the ex-Chicago, Jerry Goodman violinist escaped from the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Mark Andes bassist of Canned Heat and Spirit. Beautiful linen, well washed in family, what! “Fauves & Pastels” also draws its influences from Gainsbourg and Balavoine for a project as ambitious as it is nostalgic which keeps all its promises of winter sun.

 

Gérard Bar-David / Gonzo Music

■ on Gonzo Music (4/3/2016) by Gérard Bar-David

â–  on Musisphere.com ( 11/24/2014 ).

â–  on The Chronicles of Mandor (18/1/2015).

â–  in Highlands Magazine

- n ° 61 about the album "Alternative Resilience"

- n ° 55 about the Zèbre concert (2012)

- n ° 54 about the album "Resilience"

LU AU FIL DES ALBUMS...
 

"From down to earth to celestial. No groundbreaking freefalljump goal:" Instrumental Selection "feels like a work of genius, a seamless flow of music deliciously. The music just lifts you up one level of ecstasy and himalayan tosses you down only to catch the mood hits you before the ground. What a span! " - http://dmme.net (GB)

 

"Hors-Portée" is a very ambitious project, which goes far beyond the framework of a simple album, conceived from the beginning in two atmospheres, one more refined, typical lounge, the other oriented mainstream ... It This is a record of sophisticated songs, with colorful lyrics, infused with various styles, from rock to pop, through techno and jazz. This haunting music is undeniably current, with a production of a very high standard. Let yourself be charmed by the very special world of Chardeau! "

Yves Javier / Datas executive department, International Manager

 

An ambitious album, of great musicality, which best serves the singular universe of this unclassifiable singer-songwriter and which decompartmentalizes genres. " Gildas Lefeuvre (Musique Info Hebdo)

 

* So this is a modern piece of work. A rock that experience shows not only aim eclecticism also huge attitude and passion. A sonic journey that may be a great interest to those who like good rock and roll enriched by jazz, classic music, pop and prog, I like it a whole lot! " - Nuna / www.proggnosis.com (GB)

 

GUITARIST & BASS MAGAZINE

READ THROUGH THE ALBUMS ...

" Chardeau's music is a bit like a stained-glass window: When all the pieces are put together, they constitute a coherent and harmonious whole ... This double album out of nowhere and unexpected is the pleasant surprise of this end of the year."

Benoit Herr / CROSSROADS

 

"Hors Portée by Chardeau has to be one of the most intriguing collections to come my way time. Stylistically for some, the sound created includes progressive rock, jazz, classical, ambient electronics, techno, and world music influences. A weird combination for sure , it works intended for the most part. Many of the tracks have a rich, romantic quality ... Almost I've made references to the excellent performance throughout both reviews, a final goal has to go to mention the sophisticated compositions of Chardeau. "

www.dprp.net (GB / GEOFF Feakes)

 

"Chardeau è a Musicisti insolito, nello spazio hard riassumere the caratteristiche di una Recensione contraddistinguono che di questo musical he linguaggio artista che mostra subito if deepo e molto COLTO the musicalità è molto più di Chardeau coinvolgente rispetto alla media dei suoi edascino if sposano lied in a vocabolario per raffinate che vogliono di più dalla musica! è davvero delle riduttivo offer Indicazioni perched non possono assolutamente dare the misura della proposta di questo artista che molto più geniale if dimostre di quanto ad un ascolto POSSA trasparire superficial. "

www.rock-impressions.com (Italy)

 

"É um compositor of Chardeau entusiastas musicas ... Este projeto (Outside Scope) e para fazer nào faith voltado sucesso comercial. Avaliação: composiçào musicas e muito bom = produção e gravaçào = excellent musicos = excellent / arte / inserts = muito bom ( es got em digipack).

www.rockprogessivo.com (Brazil)

 

"Imagine you sit in a train and watch the passing landscapes. You see beautiful parks Taking the place of industrial sites followed by another view of a beautiful landscape with forests and lakes full eventually leading to the outskirts of a city, and so on .. . then this is how the album's music develops. "

Progressive Ears (GB)

 

"In short, these excellent albums, defying any formal classification, form an inseparable whole for the fusion enthusiast but also for the curious music lover eager for novelty." ****

www.musicinbelgium.net (Belgium)

 

"Reasons to daydreaming, melancholy, ethereal and gently widen, however, with something heady and pleasantly devoid of kitsch. Many is the pinnacle of beauty ... A breath of jazz-fusion, new age esoteric pop ambience, sweet song and touches of hard rock complement ... "

www.ragazzi-music.de (Germany)

 

"With each title, we walk on a star of the boulevard of pop, rock and jazz ... And we find ourselves thinking of John Mac Laughlin, Santana, Jethro Tull, ELO, Weather Report, Jerry Garcia, Chicago. .. and many others. I really fell in love with this album. Chardeau is an avant-garde. "

Alain Neau, Radio France programmer

 

"Chardeau does not yet have the place it should occupy ..." Hors Portée "is an opus to listen to urgently both for the high standard of its production and for the captivating universe it offers. rare indeed to be confronted with such a discovery which honors the music made in France usually reduced to too pale Anglo-Saxon or American copies. "

JP Gavard-Perret / www.plumart.com

 

"Chardeau offers a great first on its website: the possibility of listening to 5 + 1 audio streaming extracts, and even an interface (in flash) allowing to adjust the levels of each voice and the configuration of the speakers to create sound universe. The others are offered in quicktime extracts, of remarkable sound quality. "

Webradio frequency

 

"Chardeau has done a wonderful job of writing Some really fine tunes. As for the instruments give, which has very rich and lush sound." Instrumental Selection "is a solid listen and a good representation of modern french prog rock and fusion styles." Highlight "instantly stike a chord. A very classy and enjoyable." www.seaoftranquility.org (GB)

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