There are many albums that are made for chilling nearby big waters. Some are obvious, like those records by The Beach Boys, Tame Impala, Buena Vista Social Club, Neil Young, Miles Davis or Prince. The records I referred to relax your brain and drive your cortex in a way that allows you to read, chill under the palm tree or make love. Still, there is one album that has nothing to do with summer vacation, but I can not imagine going to the sea or ocean without it. It is a master-piece Histoire de Melody Nelson that was recorded by Serge Gainsbourg in 1971. Wow, talking about an almost half a century throwback.
I am not sure whether Serge had a sea on his mind while making this epic album. What I am sure off is that his thoughts were oriented towards Jane Birkin, eighteen years younger lady. Her middle name is Mallory and that's where the name of the album came from. Since he was fascinated with the novel Lolita, Serge decided to pursue that with Jane. The title track is about a rich guy in Rolls Roys who drives into a girl on a bicycle, after which she starts seducing him. Having his wild nature in mind and her combination of curiosity and passion, I wouldn'f be surprised If Serge found inspiration in all the things that represented their odd relationship. For me, this album is a horizon. It is a place where the sky touches the sea. I can not believe it took me almost two years of writing Kurrent reviews to even mention it. I am able to sit at the shore for hours, looking at the water and listening to perfect string arrangements by Jean Claude Vannier. I don't think about work, fake columnist, fake communists, fake hippies, egomaniacs, wrong people, procrastination, being broke... There is only this marvelous flatline and me.
I lose myself in the waves while Valse de Melody plays through my headphones. I am peeling an orange while walking around coastal streets with funky L' Hotel Particuler. With En Melody, I see two people loving each other even when every beach is completely empty. Cargo Cult helps me light up a cigarette and think about all of those nights when you can only see vagabundos roaming around through the window of a hotel room.
Although Historie de Melody Nelson is less than 30 minutes long and obtains the same melodic line in every jam, that does not prevent it from dripping down my throat like an ice cube. The fact that everything was brought to a perfection is not a coincidence. Serge gave it his all and helped Jane sing along. His love for her was never again this obvious. I remember I was swimming one summer like I never did before. The beach was empty and I was happy to be at sea after several years of not being able to afford vacation. I was contemplating about dark days that I left bak gone and felt joy of life after a long time. I am confident I would not charge batteries in the same way If it wasn't for Histoire de Melody Nelson. This was when it became my favorite summer album.
I know these are all personal associations, but is there anything more personal than music? Stream this record right now and you will thank me next summer.
