If you are a fan of French popular music, Mathieu Boogaerts is probably a known quantity to you. If you think of French pop only in the terms of another Mathieu, as in Mireille Mathieu or maybe Charles Aznavour, but you want to try something more eclectic, Boogaerts and his new album "Le Promeneur" (or Stroller, as they would say elswhere) might be exactly what your ears were searching for.
Mathieu Boogaerts has been on the French pop scene for exactly 20 years now, and has been known as a true musical chameleon, introducing everything from reggae to jazz into his musical stylings and even got some notoriety elswhere for his very folky medley/verson of Michael Jackson's mega hits Beat It/Billy Jean. What is always present in his music is that hushed up voice, tailor made for late nights and excellent lyrics (maybe it is time to brush up on your French). As some would use that French term, an excellent brew of that "Je ne sais quoi".
Not that much changes for this new album (not that Boogaerts is overproductive, h'e made only seven albums in these 20 years), meaning there is always something to surprise and make you enjoy, like the Marc Ribot styled guitar and strings in Pourqoui pas (why not, exactly). Whatever Mathieu does, there is always a natural flow and progression in his music, nothing is overstated, it just takes you along, preferrably gently. Not knowing the language will definitely not prevent you from enjoying this stuff, but if you do, it will definitely enhance your enjoyment. Case in point "Une melodie" might be just "a melody", but only in title: its gentle musical and lyrical stroll will take you places. Actually, it is very hard to say that any song from "The Stroller" stands out; the whole album just creates an atmosphere of light air it floats on, whether it is the songs I already mentioned, or the light Carribean drums and whistling of "Bas de laine" or Django Reinhardt -like rhythm guitar and woodwinds of "Mechant".
Whatever, whether you decide to dive into the lyrics or not, this is perfect late night music. Reappear a bit more often Mr. Boogarts, please.
