Macadam Farmer
Ref.: FA8610
Tainted Love
Artistic Direction: Augustin Bondoux
Label: FREMEAUX & ASSOCIES
Total duration of the work: 43 minutes
Offbeat and inventive, Macadam Farmer gives famous artists
(Cindy Lauper, Depeche Mode, Yes, Genesis, AC/DC, U2, Boney M...)
a flavor that smells of the bayous.
Rediscovering timeless hits.
In the register of cover and offbeat adaptation, Maison Frémeaux now offers this Macadam Farmer, having more in common with Hayseed Dixie (for its agro-southern references) than with Paul Mauriat. Under a deliberately kitsch and chic layout signed Ben Hito (formerly duly celebrated author of many posters and flyers for the roots, ska & blues circuits), this French quintet puts a dozen pop hits from the late seventies to the nineties through the Appalachian bluegrass mill (banjo, sousaphone, washboard, mandolin, jaw harp, harmonica and various utensils). From Cindy Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" to Patrick Hernandez's "Born To Be Alive", via Soft Cell and Gloria Jones' "Tainted Love", A-Ha's "Take On Me", Boney M's "Rasputin", Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes", Yes' "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", Genesis' "That's All", Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" and Dépède Moche's "Personal Jesus", the sketch is nonetheless meticulously crafted. A meeting as improbable as it is irresistible between John Boorman's "Deliverance" and "Saturday Night Fever" on an impromptu dance floor set up deep in the sticks, Macadam Farmer thus sets up the mirror ball in the middle of your dairy herd. Double ration of moonshine and cancoillotte for everyone!
Patrick DALLONGEVILLEParis-Move, Illico & BluesBoarder, Blues & CoPARIS-MOVE, May 31st 2024
https://www.paris-move.com/reviews/macadam-farmer-tainted-love/
Macadam Farmer: “Tainted Love”
43 delicious minutes that leave you with a smile on your face and the desire for many other versions of classic songs, very well done, on very original and very little-trodden ground.
Hillbilly, country, and bluegrass, all played out in the land and with the sound of the bayou. Richard Lingals' voice is a joy, perfectly accompanied by Fidel Castrol's always original souba. Then there's Johnny Jumper and his pile of guitars, dobro, and harmonics, and Uncle Berry on banjo and mandolin. In this musical style, Crocodile Bundy's washboard could not be missed. All participate with fun and intertwined backing vocals.
The album opens with Cindy Lauper's charming gem, a total bluegrass delight.
Next comes the title song by Gloria Jones popularized by Soft Cell, with excellent build-ups and build-ups.
More animated and consistent is Genesis' "That's all."
Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" is a crazy thing, on par with Johnny Cash's version, with a big presence of harmonica and banjo.
Blondie's "Heart of Glass" will make you smile and dance.
The slower versions of Yes and Boney M's "Rasputin" will also surprise you.
You will be amazed by the good versions of two gems as different as "Born to be alive" by Patrick Hernandez and the brilliant
“Bette Davis eyes” by Kim Carnes (we don’t miss her raspy, hypnotic voice).
I'm going to put the record back on!