Quesaco?
Six Degrees, 2022
9/10
The French quintet Paris Combo have enjoyed an exceptional career that spanned 7 studio albums full of memorable hooks, very literate wordplay and worldly jazz-pop sounds. Very unfortunately, this is their final album, as front woman Belle du Berry succumbed to cancer in 2020, but not before finishing this superb swan song.
The title track opens the listen with warm guitar, playful percussion and elegant singing from Berry, and this approach continues to the melodic and cultured “Barre espace”, where a gypsy sort of appeal is present.
In the middle, “Maudit money” is quite stylish and not without some Latin ideas, while “Axe imaginaire” flows with a dreamy demeanor that benefits from soulful brass, and, of course, Berry’s gorgeous pipes.
“Do You Think” and “Paresser par ici” exit the listen, where the former bounces and shakes with a playful and infectious energy, and the latter is rich with a universal coziness that finishes the listen with so much charm.
Berry is joined by David Lewis (piano, trumpet), Potzi (guitar), Francois Jeannin (drums), Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac (bass) and Rémy Kaprielan (percussion, vocals), and together this last record further solidifies Paris Combo as a universally enjoyable and imaginative outfit of diverse song craft.
Travels well with: Mamak Khadem- Remembrance; Dom Le Nana- Tempo