Yael Naim

This perennially popular annual compilation had Australia listening to Camille before she became a JJJ darling, Fade Out Line before The Avener’s remix topped charts across Europe, Yael Naim’s New Soul before it became the soundtrack to Apple’s MacBook Air, and to Lilly Wood and the Prick ahead of Prayer C becoming an international hit. Dancing, hanging out with friends, enjoying sunny afternoons in the garden with a glass of Champagne in hand; So Frenchy has been a soundtrack of musical joie de vivre. And now, to celebrate a decade of friendship, its curators have carefully culled its whopping 360-song playlist down to the very best of the best.

Swing XXL, obsessive groove, demonic virtuosity, Eric Legnini shapes a jazz in perpetual movement really impressive. From hard bop to pure funk, the Belgian pianist has established himself as a reference of his instrument. A student of Richie Beirach, a disciple of Phineas Newborn and Herbie Hancock, Legnini is above all the nuclear weapon of the swing. And when the groove of the soul sets fire to his hands, he approaches a Les McCann and his technique is engulfed in powerful rhythmic meanders. With Waxx Up, he signs a new high of pure groove, to celebrate once again his passion for the soul and the funk of the seventies. "The wax is my source! My culture is the vinyl, the sample, the 70s, "assures this patented digger, which never misses an opportunity to rummage an LP crate. An enraged groove in which he embarked Yael Naim, Hugh Coltman, Charles X, Mathieu Boogaerts, Anaëlle Potdevin, Ibrahim Maalouf and, for four titles, Michelle Willis.

LIKE an early taste of summer, the new double CD compilation of ‘So Frenchy So Chic’ is here, with yet another great line up. Now is the chance to hear some of the musical acts who will appear at the January picnic parties in Melbourne and Sydney, such as Lou Doillon, who will be playing songs from her highly acclaimed folk rock record ‘Lay Low’. There is also the wonderful voice of the Franco-Moroccan singer Hindi Zahra, whose music is drenched in a hypnotic world blues universe.