Camille – OUÏ
Even if your French is a bit rusty, the new album from Camille Dalmais features a lot to say yes to
Camille Dalmais’ earlier solo albums, such as Le Fil and the almost entirely a capella Music Hole, were characterised by their relatively minimal arrangements. Six years on from her last studio album Ilo Veyou, which saw her delving more into more archaic Medieval arrangements, she’s returned to this early style on new album OUÏ.
Just because she’s reusing a more tried and tested formula though, it hardly means that Camille is running out of ideas. Indeed, she might be more imaginative than ever when it comes to putting together a melody. Like Le Fil, OUÏ is characterised by an underlying, vital pulse, but it’s a little fuller instrumentally with fragments of fluttering electronics, marching beats and glitch-ridden hazes in the mix.
Never does she let these arrangements overshadow the most arresting part of her work though: her own voice. Even for non-Francophones (Seeds is the only track sung entirely in English), listening to Camille layer her own voice to create choirs and move between guttural yelps, free-flowing verses and – on Je Ne Mâche Pas Mes Mots – passages akin to traditional chansons and her own semi-rapped words is a pure joy. Even if your French is a bit rusty, there’s still a lot to say yes to.
Listen to: Sous la sable, Je Ne Mâche Pas Mes Mots