Hi Robert. Did you enjoy listening to Dolly Parton’s new album this morning?
‘Yes! Now that we hear so much bad news, and you wake up sweating every morning from all the misery in the world, Dolly Parton is the only one who can make your weekend that little bit better. She has her album Run, Rose, Run linked to her first novel, due out next week. So it’s a kind of soundtrack to the book.’
“Like the rest of the world, I love Dolly Parton. She is the mistress of the narrative song and the savior of American cohesion in polemical times. The album is about a young woman who breaks free from the past and embarks on a career in Nashville, where she comes into contact with an older singer who has been through it all. That must be Dolly herself, I think. Very nice. They are optimistic songs that just make you happy. She harks back to the old, classic bluegrass country, with violins and banjos. Now that she’s 76 years old, her voice may not be as good as it used to be, but she makes you feel like time doesn’t pass. Good old Dolly Parton is always there.’
We also have to talk about Stromae’s new album, right†
†multititude is definitely the album of this weekend. Opinions differ among the pop editors: some editors think it’s fantastic, others find it disappointing. I also like it less: I miss his thumping dance anthems. But multititude is a nice collage of all kinds of music styles and instruments. Reviewer Pablo Cabenda rightly thought it was a beautiful album and gave it four stars. I think the album is especially well made, but it doesn’t touch my soul. I don’t speak French very well myself, of course that doesn’t help. But I think a lot of people really like it. You must have heard this record this week anyway, and above all find out for yourself what you think of it.’
And you had more Belgian talent to discuss this week?
It is indeed a Belgian week, because the Flemish Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul have their debut album this week Topical Dancer released on the Deewee label. That label was built by the brothers of the also Belgian dance band Soulwax. Their influence can be heard clearly. It sounds a bit like Soulwax comes from the same art collective as Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul. Topical Dancer sounds like danceable, artistic new wave from the eighties. It is a beautiful and different album: groovy, with good communication between the basses and drums. The duo write lyrics about identity, prejudice and racism in a sarcastic and funny way. A bit of stand-up comedy, while it is serious fare. Sharply done. Mostly Blenda I think it’s a hit. A song that you want to play over and over again. A nice weekend record for under the mirror ball in the living rooms, then.’