Blessed with a soft voice that lends itself to a conspiratorial whisper, Marc Lavoine's stock in trade is dark romance, the kind of worried rumination on love in all its forms that hides bitter experience under a velvet shrug. He made his early reputation as a celebrated chanteur, singing ballads of ill-fated love, his voice a mournful tremor of despair amid tumultuous strings. His later work became more philosophical and mature, incorporating rolling rock rhythms, Beatlesque production touches, and even sprightly pop optimism into his world view.