Search - Mylene Farmer :: Avant Que L'Ombre

F)(CK THEM ALL? Certainment!

Norman K. Williams | iowa city,ia | 01/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mylene Farmer is often referred to as 'The French Madonna,' meaning, I guess that she has been around about as long as Madge, her live performances are huge spectacles, and she goes out of her way to be controversial and sensational.



But Madonna's music isn't as remarkable as her public image. In fact if she wasn't Madonna, her CDs would probably be roundly ignored. In my opinion. Mylene Farmer, on the other hand, is no musical lightweight. 'Avant Que l'Ombre' is a CD full of Farmers new model of French Pop -- frothy, cooing pop (Amour N'est Rien), sexy, insinuating electronica (Pornographique), and lush ballads (Ange Parle Moi).



The overall sound is lush, intricately produced, and shiny. In music production, the art of polishing inconsequential music is known as 'buffing a turd,' and like the best music by Janet Jackson, it's refreshing to hear all the tricks of the commercial studio used to polish up music of real consequence.



Since I don't really speak French, my appreciation for her lyrics is limited but I know enough to see some of the subtlety and sly allusions that are there. The best of Farmer's lyrics would not survive translation to English, as they are full of the insinuation and indirection that is uniquely French.



So I'd recommend this CD to anyone who appreciates the best in commercial pop music. It is quite accessible to non-francophones, yet it is different from the common sort of empty contemporary pop. There's simply more here for the listener. And it's worthwhile searching Youtube for her music videos, especially the sly striptease Mylene does in the video for "Amour N'est Rien.""