Christine and the Queens – Chris

On the Dâm-Funk-featuring Girlfriend, Christine and the Queens’ first glimpse of an album since 2014, Héloïse Letissier gave a hint towards an even bolder pop vision that also blurred gender lines and the boundaries between love and lust in its hook: 'Don’t feel like a girlfriend / But lover / Damn, I’d be your lover.'

Girlfriend proves not to be anything like an anomaly on Chris. Everything about the record feels far bigger and bolder in comparison to Chaleur Humaine. Letissier says that creating her first album turned her into an "athlete performer" and this is reflected in the energetic, dynamic sound that exudes from almost every corner of Chris. From the muscular, bass-laden pulses of Goya Soda to the twisting and turning of Damn (What Must a Woman Do) and the neo-baroque vibe of frenetic closer The Stranger, it’s almost impossible not to be physically moved. Over this though, Letissier explores complex issues in her lyrics and knows when to turn the tempo down; The Walker, in particular, provides a beautifully poetic moment.

Make Some Sense is a rare sluggish moment for the record, but is a minor dip in what is otherwise a sparkling pop album that flourishes in both English and French. As its title suggests, Chris is a supremely confident introduction to the next phase of Christine and the Queens.

Listen to: Goya Soda, The Walker