Search - Manau :: Fest Noz DE Paname

Manau, Mes Amours

Karyn | 06/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is a good reason to love this group. Not only do their albums continually improve, but (if you can speak French or are willing to get a BabelFish or Systran - bad though they are - or native-speaker translation) their messages in a genre dominated (in the US, anyway) by misogeny, drugs, sex, and sociopathy, this is like a breath of fresh air! [Even my husband, a non-French speaker and normally rap-hating LOVED this CD - even more than the first!]The Intro says that the entire world, not just the Celts, are in the tribe. "Tout Le Monde" echos this in a double entendre - tout le monde means, simply, "everyone" yet it literally translates to "all the world". "La Poupee" is a BEAUTIFUL song done with French star Maurane and is about childhood innocence. "Je Jazz Les Couleurs" has DeeDee Bridgewater(!) who performs some bridge vocals. "Dernier Combat" is about having a loved one die of a terminal illness - the music is haunting and beautiful. "Des Kilos" is a parody of how people are obsessed with their bodies and is rockin' besides. The last cut on the album, "De Brunau a Mano", is a solo on the bagpipes. Oh, a tip: if you go to the French Amazon site, you can actually listen to cuts from the album. Go to www.amazon.fr and type in "manau" (w/o the "s) at the top field near where it says "RECHERCHE RAPIDE". It will then show their two albums. Select either to hear the tracks! BTW, "Fest Noz" is 218 and "Panique" is still at 675 even though it debuted in 1999!"

Manau tops themselves!

Karyn | Hercules, CA United States | 01/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hard to believe that Manau could do any better than their first album, but indeed they impress on "Fest Noz de Paname." Manau represents all that French music should be: They use instruments commonly attributed to French music (accordions, certain wind/reed pipes), they are extremely proud of their country and especially their region (Brittany), and they bring the struggles of their ancestors to life and apply it to their own struggles in modern-day. While the ancestral and regional pride are not as prominent on this album as it was on "Panique Celtique," that does not mean that Manau has lost any of its artistic integrity. They test the waters of hiphop a bit further and touch on Jazz, among many other new styles, without going overboard or sounding as if they are selling out. This collection of songs is quite diverse, leaving each song to be appreciated on its own merit, not in comparison to any other on the album. I love "Faut pas faire chier Meme" (even for the title alone!!), "Je jazz les couleurs," the energetic "Tout le monde," and especially the crown jewel of the album, "J'dedicace." I could talk on and on about the sentimental beauty of "J'dedicace" (a tribute to family, friends, ex-friends, those who have touched our lives in even the smallest ways), but I'll spare a few minutes and tell you that it's so spectacular that even the instrumental part is as profound and well developed as the lyrics! This is a wonderful album"

Manua- Real World Music

Ann Olivia | Bethesda Maryland | 04/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved this album because of the perfect blend of rap, hip hop, and instrumentations that are not normally associated with Rap such as the Harp. The celtic pieces were fresh and modern yet retained the truth of the old world culture. The lyrics are funky, sexy and hip. The blend of jazz, rap, and hiphop styles with urban French flavor takes you the club scenes across the pond just by turning on your CD player. Fresh, Stylish, Hip. Excellent instrumentations. A must buy!"