Review: Nouvelle Vague "Bande A Part"

Review: Nouvelle Vague "Bande A Part"

Nouvelle Vague "Bande A Part": Aidin Vaziri | Another week, another '80s tribute album -- only this one comes with a French twist. On Nouvelle Vague's self-titled domestic debut, producer Marc Collin gave post-punk classics such as Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and Modern English's "I Melt With You" a mesmerizing overhaul using bossa-nova beats, sexy tropical bass lines and breathless torch singers caked with plenty of black mascara. This follow-up faithfully sticks to the languid, cosmopolitan formula. It's not quite as good as the first, and not just because the novelty value has diminished, but rather because the song selection is noticeably less inspired (Ugh! Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself"), the vibe is less groovy ("Girl From Ipanema") and more grating ("My Boy Lollipop") and standout singer Camille (left) has taken off for a solo career. While there is something perversely satisfying in hearing what sounds like a melodica on a Caribbean cover of U2's "Pride (in the Name of Love)," Nouvelle Vague's revisions of the Buzzcocks' "Ever Fallen in Love?" and the Cramps' "Human Fly" unexpectedly fall flat. Fortunately, other tracks better capture the cocktail-party atmosphere, particularly a minimalist take on Blondie's "Heart of Glass" and an earthy run through Heaven 17's "Let Me Go," while a dreamy update of Echo & the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon" is simply to die for.