So as in the USA, France's major labels have been hitting hard times. I feel for them, I really do. As a result of France's label dilemma, a number of smaller labels have been popping up to serve up a Nouvelle Chanson (or New Song) sound. Where once only a handful served the needs of the chic, there are now dozens of labels, and behind them, even more producers and artists.

1. Pierre Lapointe "Qu'en est-il de lachance?"
2. Austine "Rhume"
3. Vincent Delerm "Sépia plein les doigts"
4. Holden "Madrid"
5. Eddy (la) Gooyatsh "L'amour et l'eaufraîche"
6. Mathieu Boogaerts "Les Tchèques"
7. Jeanne Cherhal "Voilà"
8. Pascal Colomb "Toute ressemblance"
9. Ludo Pin "3 Secondes"
10. Pascal Parisot "Le Naturel"
11. Nicolas Haas "Si un jour tu hésites"
12. Melanie Pain "La Cigarette"
13. Dominique A "Dans un camion"
14. Thierry Stremler "Idéal modèle"
15. Barbara Carlotti "Cannes"
16. Bastien Lallemant "Torticolis"

Since Köln, Germany based label Le Pop Musik's last issuance of the compilation series "Le Pop", which was about 18 months ago, the style of France's "New Chic" music was beginning on a trend towards a Rive-Gauche style; lyrically centered songs with pure and simple instrumentation. Le Pop 4 reveals some of this trend and demonstrates where we might find this music going next year.

In many ways the style of French pop music heard on Le Pop 4 goes in hand with the electronic folk style that's been growing in prevalence around the world. The focus of songs is placed on the quality of their arrangements, and in the heartfelt sincerity of their vocal melodies. The focus is not on clever loops but songwriting.

Unlike American Pop, this brand is more sophisticated, elegant, softer, and doesn't invest all its potential in a catchy, overt chorus. Though I have a feeling, you won't have to dig too deeply into France's pop scene to hear very much the same as American pop. But right now, we're going to imagine that this is the current state of the whole of France's pop music scene and we're going to be incredibly jealous. If these were the songs of the American radio airwaves I'd probably turn my radio on, which, as a result of fantastically poor musical offerings, has been off for at least the past 15 years or so.

These songs are all delicately arranged, with softly delivered vocals, sweet melodies and an almost irresistible shyness that makes it effortlessly accessible. The instrumentation is most often acoustic, though there are times when electronic instruments can be heard.

If you've got a taste for bands like Nouvelle Vague, Emilie Simon, or have a thing for French pop, you really can't say you have a proper music collection without having a copy of Le Pop 4 in it. At this moment I have to say it...I dig French pop.

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