Variéty

Album Review

There is an arch pun in the title of this Rita Mitsouko release, which sees the French boho-rock duo eschewing standard French pop (or variété) in favor of a broader rock palette. Opening track "L'Ami Ennemi" immediately surprises with its delicacy. In an incongruously sweet vocal turn, Catherine Ringer sneers at an old friend over lilting acoustic guitar laced with harmonica; it is a terrific song. Harmonica also features in second song "Communiqueur d'Amour," "Berceuse" ("Lullaby") is jokily named, given its squall of electric guitar and belligerent chorus, and "Terminal Beauty" finds Ringer trading overblown vocals with System of a Down's Serj Tankian. Although the songs on Variéty lack uniformity of purpose, there are a couple of highlights.