A return, a Farewell ...

When he recorded Marquesas in 1976, Jacques Brel knows this will be his last work. Condemned by now incurable cancer, it is with the energy of despair he delivers his latest collection of wonders, his will to the world of music.

Les Marquises is a fine album, Farewell to world capital, it is also the return of a Brel with nothing left out for 72 and more original material since 1968, they are the last cartridges a (not so) old singer would not be believed lost a good part of its faculties not breathing the recent removal of one of his lungs (and damn crab gnawing another, inevitably).
It is, in any sense, a dark Brel, desperate ... But ultimately not much more than the young-spirited man who sang Death in 1959, The Dying in 1961, or ultimately depressive Les Vieux in 1964. In gender Orly and Jojo arise a little there, see a friend crying is not far behind. But Brel is not just depressed, it is still and always a visionary and angry. In the first category, we highlight the F ... (which also works for anger) and his unbridled funk and bossa speed between Lion and swinging song. In the second, where Brel grow old rejoices / cry all his rage not to die old in a text list relentless shaped cord of the inevitable final extinction of fires, The F ... so when he spits his hatred its Flemish citizens and their hypocrisy grime. Brel is undeniably still Brel, and play the waiting was worth it because Marquesas, musically, textually, is a beauty. And a heartbreaking farewell to a rare singer, an exceptional lyricist, an irreplaceable artist.

Regarding this issue, mention the (small) controversy the addition of five tracks from the same sessions remained unreleased because not mature enough as Brel. If one understands the logic of the indignation of some temple guards, we look forward to having access to a viscerally certainly less essential but still friendly material (No requirements especially with Brel supported by an organ and a harpsichord, the most beautiful effect). He was honored at the time, Jacques Brel dismiss these songs as part of the work he wished vinyl conceive, it is equally important to beneficiaries to make them public today ' hui, in the hour of cd and dematerialized.

The Marquesas, a return and a farewell. One more miracle and then goes away. Some like it, you rarely, alas. Essentially, therefore.

Jacques Brel - vocals
François Rauber - arrangements and conducting
Marcel Azzola - accordion
Gérard Jouannest - piano
(Other unknown musicians)