Search - Guesch Patti :: Labyrinthe

Absolutely Brilliant!!!

loteq | 10/10/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought "Labyrinthe" in the autumn of 1988 after hearing the superb tracks "Let be must the queen" and "Etienne". I was mesmerised by the voice of this french artist, who seems to say so much, sometimes without even using words. I thought you could get tired of listening to the same music over and over but after listening to the album on and off for the last 11 years, I find it still to be as interesting now as it was then. Tracks such as "Bonne anniversaire" and "Triangle" show how good a singer she really is, not to forget the band, who rise with the front lady to face the challenges of mixing the different styles on this absolutely brilliant album. It's a shame not more artists have as much talent."

Mentalite febrile

loteq | Regensburg | 05/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps the most original debut to come out of the French music movement of the late-'80s, "Labyrinthe" bears very little resemblance to traditional French chanson and synth pop from the likes of Les Rita Mitsouko. Instead, it provides an accessible but rough sound driven by Guesch's hoarse, snotty voice and the tight accompaniment of her backing band Encore. "Etienne" was #1 in several European countries, while the video clip (with Guesch using a chair as sexual partner) caused much uproar. As debut albums go, there's a couple of filler and uninspired tracks, and the band sometimes falls into rock cliches. Nevertheless, the funny "Let be must..", the suprisingly sinister "Bon anniversaire", and the bright pop of "C'est pas assez" are other highlights. "Labyrinthe" is rather a collection of songs (and not a very consistent album), but the dynamic performance of Guesch and her band keeps things fairly interesting. Although 1990's follow-up "Nomades" contained a great single with "Fleurs carnivores" and came up with a more polished and well-devised sound, the public interest in Guesch began to wane quickly. "Gobe" (1992) was produced by TAFKAP's former drummer Bobby Z. and proved to be a serious commercial flop. 1995's "Blonde", featuring a new image and dancier songs, wasn't even noticed in Germany where French artists are generally treated with much respect. Undeservedly, Guesch ended up as a one-hit-wonder..."