Jacques Brel – Les Marquises (1977/2014) [SACD]

Brel is in fine form here. His songs are filled with with the same lyric themes of his earlier work, but are also imbued with cinematic production and arrangements, influenced by the prior five years of both acting in and directing films. Other new components here are the influences of AfroCaribbean rhythms and ’70s jazz-funk, evidenced best in tracks such as “Le Lion” and “Les E…”. This is a quirky, adventurous set to be sure, but it satisfies from top to bottom: Les Marquises is classic Brel.