Saint Privat - Riviera

On first listen to this, the debut album from Saint Privat, I thought “nice”. A little later on, I thought “hmm, cooool!” I found that a little touch of jazzy inflection, some coolly restrained female vocals and a smattering of Gallic charm works for me.

The promoters say Saint Privat “takes you to a glamorous world nestled between soft Bossa-Nova, 60s Riviera and Rococo Jazz.” There is certainly a touch of cheeky nostalgia about this quiet, restrained little gem. Intimate and gentle vocals combined with the softest, simplest, jazziest electronica are a delight for the ears, battered for so long with complex layers of tunes. It is little surprise that the producer of this album, Waldeck, was apparently inspired by classic French and Italian cinema; many tracks leave you feeling as though you are enjoying a sunny afternoon floating down the Riviera in springtime or enjoying a coffee in a smoky café with a sultry chanteuse crooning in the corner.

Most of the album was recorded live by musicians of the Dope Noir Jazz Division, but the sound is crystal clear, with many of the fairly short tracks carried along by the sweet and husky-voiced Valerie Sajdik. Track three, nothing to lose, is full of her joys of springtime, while track four, tous les jours, is the first time we are treated to her native French tones, with cutesy whistling lending a truly European feel. Brush drumming, low-toned piano and warm, slow bass feature across subsequent tracks designed to warm the cockles of the heart. Tongue in cheek mish-mashes of classic tunes, such as the girl from ventimiglia, add a sweetly wistful and melancholy air to an afternoon, while a twisty electronically treated Bach composition nods to the producers influences.

This is a delicious album for a relaxed Sunday afternoon, a cheesily romantic dinner for two by candlelight for a lazy picnic on the river. Don’t forget to pack the champagne and Gauloises.