Christophe - Aimer ce que Nous Sommes (2008)

Songwriter, producer, and singer Christophe released Aimer ce que Nous Sommes in June of 2008. Since he records so infrequently, new offerings are always an event. That said, this may his most ambitious recording to date, placing him in the category of pop iconoclasts and experimentalists such as Robert Wyatt, Scott Walker, Kevin Coyne, et al. Drenched in sublime melodies and fragments of melodies, this heavily produced outing is rich in textures, atmospheres, and beautifully layered electronics. Notions of memory -- not nostalgia -- both sweet and bittersweet inhabit this ghostly album. Standout tracks include the ambient recitative in "Magda," the driving decadent pop in "Tonight, Tonight," the haunting jazz-flamenco of "Odore de Femina," (with Erik Truffaz on trumpet), and the majestic, "Parle-Lui de Moie." This album is evidence that Christophe, like fine wine, only gets better with age.