PAR LES FILS DE MANDRIN

Like other reviewers, I'm left mildly nonplussed by Par les Fils de Mandrin - it's not that it's a bad album, far from it, but it does feel more like an exercise in working through a formula rather than it does a piece the band feel a genuine enthusiasm for, and it's a formula that's better implemented on other Ange albums. Christian Decamps once more steals the show with his highly theatrical vocal style, and I'm inclined to agree with Bonnek that the songwriting seems intended to support his dramatic delivery rather than allowing the other musicians a chance to show off their skills.