Review: Yelle - Complètement Fou
By Kenyetta Whitfield, Contributor
[Kemosabe Records; 2014]
Rating: 7.5/10
Key Tracks: “Complètement Fou,” “Nuit de baise I,” “Nuit de baise II"
French group Yelle came onto the scene in 2005 after its song “Je Veux Te Voir,” previously named “Short Dick Cruzi” was posted to the group's Myspace. The song became the group’s first single in 2006 and the rest is a piece of French history.
Yelle is comprised of aliases Yelle, GrandMariner and Yepr. With two studio albums, Yelle has shown that although language barriers can be difficult in certain circumstances, their electrifying disco synthpop goes beyond those limits.
The group’s third album Complètement Fou is 13 tracks, another example of why Yelle has been able to achieve international success. Each track at its core is the fun dance pop Yelle’s fans have come to expect. Yelle’s members combined their talents with those of producer Dr. Luke to create a more melodic rather than beat driven sound, showcasing Yelle’s perfectly pop voice. The album is also a more sultry side of Yelle, for example song titles that translate to “Night Fuck.”
“Complètement Fou (Totally Crazy)” is a great introduction to the album as well as a great summarization of the listening experience. The song features a great beat, but, instead of overpowering the song, it’s balanced by Yelle’s equally enticing voice. As an opener, it does a superb job of starting the album.
“Nuit de baise I (Night Fuck I)” is a short yet smooth listen that runs just over two minutes. The song is a great example of the group’s growth throughout the album. The song is sexier than most others and Yelle’s voice is sultry as she talks about a night with a lover. “In your apartment we tried everything / I tasted one by one your square centimeters.”
On the album’s tenth track the listener is introduced to “Nuit de baise II.” The track takes more creative freedom as the song features a male voice. The track has a grown and sexy feel with an alternative R&B sound.
"Dire qu’on va tous mourir (Saying That We Will All Die)" is a simple groove that lasts less than two minutes. Though the song is short it features strong and emotional lyrics such as “I would be alone in the end anyway,” the final line in the song.
The album closes with one of its strongest tracks. “Bouquet Final (The Grand Finale)” features a more electronic feeling than the seductive songs, but Yelle sings with enough emotion to tie up the album. Yelle’s voice is the star of the song as she sings about a relationship and its fate.
Complètement Fou exemplifies Yelle’s growth and shift in sound. The band known for its bubblegum synth pop roots in Pop Up has not made a transformation but has incorporated the sugary, witty pop fans love with a more melodic sound.
