Here comes Mick Harvey again, continuing his tribute saga to Serge Gainsbourg that now spans four Albums - from “Intoxicated Man” in 1995, “Pink Elephants” in 1997, last year’s “Delirium Tremens” and now “Intoxicated Women”. This might be a sign that he is concluding the series. Personally, hopefully not.
Some might say, why Gainsbourg? What does a guy that was key in many Nick Cave projects has to do with Serge Gainsbourg?
Don’t ask, because true musicians know. Ask, for example, reggae giants Sly&Robbie. When Gainsbourg came to Jamaica to record an album and approached the two through an agent, their first reaction was: “Gainsbourg who? We gotta finish a few spliffs now…” “Well, you know the guy who wrote ‘Je t’aime…” “Je time? , Let's go!” They knew.
And it is exactly “J t’aime” Harvey starts this collection of Gainsbourg songs written or sung for or/and with female singers. This time in German. It seems Harvey is trying to dissuade anybody who has doubts in this song that it can sound great and sexy in any language. It does.
Harvey covers the whole gamut of Gainsbourg’s “work for women” - from the pure pop of “Puppet of Wax, Puppet of Song” to more poetry oriented material like “Prevert’s Song”. But what Harvey has been able to convey in the best manner possible is that tension-release element of Gainsbourg’s duets. Of all the female partners accompanying (or leading) him here, all are excellent and well chosen, but Andrea Schroeder (“Je t’aime” and “God Smokes Havanas”) and Jess Ribeiro (“Prevert’s Song” and “The Drowned One”) truly shine.
As is the case with all Harvey albums, Gainsbourg tributes or else, the musicianship and arrangements are excellent. Something that is already expected of him, but its quality always amazes. Part of it might have to do that Gainsbourg’s inspiration has transferred into Harvey’s original material, which in a way further confirms that Mick Harvey was right in choosing to pay a tribute to Serge Gainsbourg in such an elongated manner.
