At first glance, one might think this CD is something to be avoided like the plague, being named after a nasty illness and all. In fact, it is the second quirky and cutesy offering from the sexy chanteuse behind Saint Privat, who is back to charm listeners with her pared back and sweetly Gallic tones. Oh, and in French, Super Flu means something akin to “super fly” – rich, decadent and glamorous. In actual fact, the duo put it better than I could do myself: “The seductive world of Saint Privat is one of glamour, luxury and enrichment, but behind the beautiful façade, the dark foundation of the Jet-Set life emerges: hedonism, decadence and melancholy,” they explain. “Superflu becomes a nostalgic daytrip to places inaccurately remembered because our minds have been hobbled by divine champagne…”

So what of the music? Well, it takes me back to the recent past when I attended a friend’s wedding and she charmingly eschewed the usual classic schlock in favour of classic French songstresses, which evoked a “Paris in Springtime” feel throughout proceedings. The kitschy and quietly electronic tunes on this CD are a slightly more modern version of that approach; what singer Valerie and producer Waldeck have dubbed “Chanson psychédélique” or “At times fresh, charming and très trippy”. And so it goes. Sometimes whispery, sometimes la-la-la-ing, Valerie trips her way through 11 shortish songs with the same sort of whimsy as on her debut album ‘Riviera’. It is saccharine at times, but not often enough to slipslide into cheesy territory, and its rustic and husky sound was enhanced by Valerie recording with the band “to catch the authentic atmosphere of a raffish old French Variété theatre”. And in a somewhat hilarious twist, the musicians were shown psychedelic soft porn as they played!

If that doesn’t explain it, then nothing will. Personally, girls, I can think of no better soundtrack to the first “at-home date” when one is attempting to come across all dainty and feminine to snare a member of the opposite sex. Chuck this on, pour some icy champagne and raise a toast to a decadent life – salut!