Search - Françoise Hardy :: If You Listen

Underrated Folk-Psych Jewel

a music fan | Portland, OR United States | 03/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This record doesn't get much respect from Francoise Hardy fans. Maybe it's because it's mostly in English, maybe because it's mostly covers, maybe because it isn't like her 1960's orchestral pop hits. Still, this is one of her records that I listen to the most. If you skip the saccharine "Until It's Time For You To Go" -- the only real dud on the record -- what's left is a beautiful, hypnotic mixture of folk-psych and orchestral folk songs. There's a real strangeness about most of these recordings, whether it's the weird instrumental interlude on "If You Listen", the over-the-top background vocals on "Let My Name Be Sorrow", the backwards guitar on "Take My Hand For A While", or the gong on "Bown Bown Bown". The title track is a psych-folk masterpiece, similar to Pink Floyd's pastoral accoustic songs like "Grandchester Meadows", but with sexier vocals."

Excellent

a music fan | 08/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of my favorite Francoise albums. Better then any other female singing at that time."