Camille - Music Hole

Mon 21st Apr, 2008 in Music Reviews

French folk-pop artist Camille is back with a third album filled with unexpected uncommon and unusual sounds that make Music Hole almost indescribable. Almost. A mix of French and English tracks, Camille’s new release has little use of instruments, and instead, weird sounds, such as a cat’s meow and drops of water, become the core of each song. It’s not a typical pop album; Music Hole is au natural.

The songs are playful with sounds ranging from having African roots to tribal mantras. The deep beats in Carnards Sauvages give the track an Afro-jazz feel, as splashes of water and Camille’s backdrop vocals complete its cheery tone. Winter’s Child starts out slow, but her voice plays with the octaves. The song is a kind of strange chant that calls for the season.

Cats and Dogs is about…let’s see…cats and dogs. But it’s more than that. Other noises, as listed on the CD flap, include different coloured cows, horses, pigs, ducks, fish and other animals I didn’t know made sounds. The pet sounds in the background make the track mischievous, almost humorous, yet light-hearted, but the piano used makes the song a soundtrack to walking around Paris. Additionally, the organic beat-boxing used in a couple of tracks surprisingly fits Camille’s folk-pop persona.

But the vivacity in Music Hole is also paired with a creepy vibe as tracks like The Monk and Money Note feature eerie hymns and hums. The Monk starts out with the sound of steps then matched with a ghostly drone. The track then becomes a combination of weird human noises fit for mucking around.

Music Hole has that Vaudeville ambience – a mix of random songs that work for Camille’s own sound. The exclusive use of sound effects, including all sorts of percussion, makes the album rare. Camille is quirky and that’s what she presents in her Music Hole.