by Alexey EremenkoFrance does not have much of a presence on the rock map, but Gaëtan Roussel's debut solo album prove that the country still has something to offer in that department. The record's nothing groundbreaking, to be sure -- the music is built around clean guitar strumming and simplistic but bouncy beats that sound vaguely retro, as if Joe Dassin or even the Beatles were in a mood for some groove, but drew inspiration from Montmartre street music. The vocals are also a focal point, though Roussel does not qualify for chanson -- he is too reserved for that, and is never trying to make his cocky half-whisper, half-chant sexy (though it still is every now and then). This setup suffices to make the music moderately fun, just because Roussel can pull off some hooks with these admittedly sparse means, but thankfully, he does not stop there, adding a bit of electronica to the mix -- … » Read more