The second
Rough Guide installment of Parisian cafe music delves deeper into the uniquely French world of musette. It's very broad stylistically, ranging from the jazzy melange purveyed by
Les Primitifs du Futur (which isn't typical of their work) to the archaic strangeness of
Trio DCA. There's plenty of wonderful musicianship, some of it from accordionist
Ludovic Beier, featured on a pair of tracks. One of the great joys of this compilation is the way it goes into the vaults for some vintage 1930s recordings from
Damia and
Henri Momboisse. The sheer variety of sound is thrilling, as is the quality of the musicianship -- and there are far fewer accordions than most might expect. It's an area of music that most people have heard, at least fleetingly, but which very few know, and that makes this a worthy addition. Add in a bonus CD from the young band
Beltuner, who have plenty to contribute to an established style with their Arabic influences, and it's a winning package. ~ Chris Nickson