Camille - Money Note

For those looking for a French avant garde beat-boxed house-pop hybrid - and frankly who isn't? - this is perfect stuff. Taken from the recently released and absurdly titled Music Hole, this bizarre ode to hitting the high notes further establishes the chanteuse as one of the most inventive and appealing starlets around. A looped beat, comprising whispered lists of foreign currencies and rhythmic jangling of coins, underpins a jazz-influenced attack on divas like Mariah Carey. It’s fresh, intriguing and inventive, and it’s also incredibly funny. The track builds up slowly, with Camille wailing intensely about “wanting to take it higher”, before it finally collapses under the weight of the coins crashing. This money shot takes the form of a high-pitched, ear-bursting whistle that’s barely musical. It’s every bit as odd and clever as it sounds, but still remains appealing and accessible.[Scott Ramage]