BLOGS

If there's one thing we know about French actresses, it's that they make great musicians. Of course, in Charlotte Gainsbourg's case, a little collaboration with some great established musicians doesn't hurt. This time, she got eclectic rocker Beck Hansen to produce and lend a hand for "IRM," and for the most part, Beck's hand is obvious. Giving off hints of "Mutations" and "Guero," Gainsbourg's new album is soft and diverse, throwing in some sweeping Bond-theme strings on "Le Chat du Café des Artistes," and hitting on a modern day "Mellow Yellow" with "Dandelion." If Enya had made the soundtrack for "The Lion King," we'd have "Voyage," one of the album's most delicious tracks. The first single off the record, "Heaven Can Wait," sounds basically like a mash-up of Beck's "O Maria" and "Bottle of Blues," but being that "Mutations" is one of my favorite Beck albums, I don't mind so much.

"IRM" comes off more as Beck's baby, but Gainsbourg's haunting vocals give it a lighter touch than anything he's done himself. The album turns out sounding simply like a brilliant pairing.

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