Album review

Benjamin Biolay & Chiara Mastroianni

Taking It Home

25/06/2004 - 

Talented young singer, songwriter and composer Benjamin Biolay has been much in demand on the French music scene of late. The musical phenomenon recently decided to work on his own account, teaming up with his actress wife, Chiara Mastroianni, to record the concept album, Home. The result is a highly original work where unexpected "pop folk" influences merge with atmospheric lyrics and melodies reminiscent of Serge Gainsbourg.

Music fans are generally suspicious when actors venture into the recording studio to prove their vocal worth – and justifiably so! However, there have been some interesting exceptions lately, notably Carla Bruni (admittedly a top model rather than an actress) who scored a surprise international hit with her album Quelqu'un de bien. But for every Carla there has been a series of frankly disappointing album releases from French comic Elie Seimoun, actress Jeanne Balibar and catwalk model Karen Mulder. And when, as in Benjamin and Chiara's case, the album in question has been written and produced by a husband musician head over heels in love with his other half, there are grounds for even greater suspicion than usual.

But, miracle of miracles, Home – the first musical collaboration between sought-after producer Benjamin Biolay and rising young actress Chiara Mastroianni (daughter of Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni) – makes surprisingly good listening. In fact, the husband and wife team's album leaves the clichés far behind, proving that a record made by a celebrity couple does not necessarily need a celebrity-based marketing campaign to make its way in the music world.

Even the making of Home stems from a touchingly natural story of everyday life. One day, Benjamin and Chiara decided to jump in the car and drive to the Hague in the Netherlands, listening to music along the way (indulging in a spot of what Americans know as "cruising", but which the French have yet to invent a word for!) As Benjamin and Chiara cruised gently along the highways and byways, a terrible realisation began to dawn upon them – the records they had brought from home to accompany them on their trip made dull and tedious listening!

Being a creative couple, the pair promptly decided that on their return they would sit down and compose the ideal soundtrack for their next trip. Home is thus the musical accompaniment to Benjamin and Chiara's personal road movie, recorded with a group of musicians they put together specially for the occasion. The group (called Home, like the album) got together in a Paris recording studio for three sessions spread over three days. This brief interlude proved to be enough to capture the spontaneity and simplicity of the album's 15 songs, which veer between the autobiographical and an imaginary story recounting the rise and demise of a relationship.

Home does not run in any chronological order. In fact, the album kicks off with a song about the end of a relationship. La Ballade Du Mois de Juin finds Chiara crooning softly, without pathos, about the tragic end of a couple's road trip. Home is not all weeping and tragedy, however. Biolay's lyrics range from lucid analyses of love to bitingly funny takes on coupledom (c.f. Tête A Claques). A number of unexpected themes also creep into the songwriting, with musings on cannabis smoking in L’Apologie, tales of prison life in Folle De Toi and an exploration of post-9/11 America on L’Arizona. The album alternates duets and solos by Chiara – and it must be said, Deneuve junior comes out very well on these, after having honed her vocal skills on Je Ne T’ai Pas Aimé (a track on her husband's second album last year). Chiara has no complexes about tackling a spot of English either, gamely switching into a second language for A House Is Not A Home, She’s My Baby and Dance Rock N’Roll with its Beach Boy-style harmonies. A reference to Biolay's mentor, Gainsbourg, is also slipped in on the song Un Problème?

Interestingly enough, Biolay moves away from his usual sumptuous arrangements on Home, preferring to go in for a more minimalist, pared-down style. The simple pop-folk influences on the album allow songs which are seemingly sweet and light on the surface to nurture hidden violence in their depths, which occasionally breaks through with a burst of emotive guitar (c.f. La Plage). At other moments touches of organ and flute (Douce Comme L’Eau) come to the fore, alternating with acoustic folk-style guitars and soft drums. In short, the fifteen tracks on Home are rich and redolent and as luxuriously laidback as if they had actually been recorded in the comfort of Benjamin and Chiara's living-room. This concept album is frankly too good to be limited to the car stereo!

Home Virgin/ EMI

Marion Guilbaut