Francis Cabrel - Photos de voyages (1985/2013) [Hi-Res]

By the release of this album, Francis Cabrel had assembled quite a formidable team of instrumentalists, arrangers, and producers, and this album reflects their confidence and ability. More varied than any of Cabrel's earlier releases, Photos de Voyages maintains a high level of excellence musically. The arrangements are compelling and the instrumental performances are strong and tasteful. However, the disc is missing the knockout songs of Quelqu'un de l'interieure, not to mention the intensity and insightful social observations of his earlier work. The album is a transitional work: Cabrel moving from savant singer-songwriter to relaxed, reminiscent musical shape-shifter, an approach which he is to master on later releases. Overall, this is a better forum for Gerard Bikialo (producer) than Cabrel, but a nice indicator of what is to come.