Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 11/28/2006
French
teen idol and
pop icon
Françoise Hardy returned to record shelves in 2006 with
Parenthèses, a collection of 12 duets. Longtime collaborators like
Henri Salvador and husband
Jacques Dutronc join some up-and-comers to offer up a slew of some of
Hardy's favorites. Among the selections, the intimate and lilting duet with
Dutronc, the eerie
"My Beautiful Demon" with
Ben Christophers and
"Le Fou de la Reine" (with the perpetually smooth
Henri Salvador) are highlights. Keeping production tricks and mixing slick-ery to a tasteful minimum,
Hardy manages to capture quite a bit of the magic that made earlier efforts (like 1971's
Question) so uncluttered and engaging. Even
Julio Iglesias seems to get into the groove, turning in a fine rendition of
Dutronc's aching
"Partir Quand Même..." that's neither flashy nor overtly sexy -- just comfortable -- and that's a good overall description of the album as well.
~J. Scott McClintock, All Music Guide
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