I always look forward to new compilations from Germany's Le Pop Musik. I can't really tell you why, but there's just something abstractly addictive about nouvelle chansons music, and that of course, is Le Pop's raison d'etre. I think the distance and disconnection of not being based in France is what gives Le Pop it's advantage and quality in compiling this music. Les chansons are unrepentently poppy, willfully childlike, curiously jazzy, certainly folky, and ultimately unique.

1. Olive et Moi "L'ascenseur"
2. Chat "Harmony"
3. Albin De La Simone & Vanessa Paradis "Adrienne"
4. Dominique A "La fin d'un monde"
5. Sammy Decoster "Tucumcari"
6. Naim Amor "Être là"
7. Bastien Lallemant & Armelle Pioline "La plage"
8. Vincent Delerm "Je pense á toi"
9. Eddy (la) Gooyatsh "Le Vélo"
10. Marianne Dissard "La peau du lait"
11. Benjamin Biolay "Ton héritage"
12. Holden "Mia"
13. Mathieu Boogaerts "Allez"
14. Mickey 3D "Chanson du bonheur qui fait peur"
15. Melanie Pain & Julien Doré "Helsinki"
16. Coeur de Pirate "Comme des enfants"

There is no way I can pretend that I prefer male vocalists in this style. I don't. When the songs are fronted by male vocalists there is just something far too folky about the sound, and often too contrived. My mind doesn't travel to the emotional places that female singers effortlessly take a listener to. There are times when the sound conjurs visions of discrete interactions among the trappings of a swanky, but open and airy lounge, where everyone presents themselves in only their best state of mind and style, and those are interesting songs.

For me, Le Pop 5 includes too many male vocal songs and too much folkiness, so perhaps I'm not suitably qualified to judge it. I can only say, previous volumes were played far more times than this one. If you like male vocals of course, and more importantly, French music, then by all means get yourself a copy of Le Pop 5.

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