Madeleine Peyroux
Anthem
Album · Jazz · 2018 · Universal Music Division Decca Records France
With longtime collaborator Larry Klein producing, American singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux offers a timely set of original songs on Anthem, her ninth full-length—even if the title track is an arresting Leonard Cohen cover. Peyroux also sets Paul Eluard’s 1942 anti-Nazi poem “Liberté” to music, with just acoustic guitar, a touch of strings, and harmony vocals on the final titular word. Here and on songs like “The Brand New Deal,” Peyroux casts her eyes on the state of the world, though Anthem is multifaceted, steering clear of one-note polemic. The dystopic story-song “Party Tyme” (featuring Gregoire Maret on harmonica) introduces a note of dark humor. Informed by soul, jazz, pop, and other musical currents, the program is beautifully played, with Klein on bass, keyboardist Patrick Warren, guitarist David Baerwald, and drummer Brian MacLeod serving not only as the core band, but sharing writing credits as well.
Anthem
Madeleine Peyroux
With longtime collaborator Larry Klein producing, American singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux offers a timely set of original songs on Anthem, her ninth full-length—even if the title track is an arresting Leonard Cohen cover. Peyroux also sets Paul Eluard’s 1942 anti-Nazi poem “Liberté” to music, with just acoustic guitar, a touch of strings, and harmony vocals on the final titular word. Here and on songs like “The Brand New Deal,” Peyroux casts her eyes on the state of the world, though Anthem is multifaceted, steering clear of one-note polemic. The dystopic story-song “Party Tyme” (featuring Gregoire Maret on harmonica) introduces a note of dark humor. Informed by soul, jazz, pop, and other musical currents, the program is beautifully played, with Klein on bass, keyboardist Patrick Warren, guitarist David Baerwald, and drummer Brian MacLeod serving not only as the core band, but sharing writing credits as well.
