Sébastien Tellier: Exploring the ethereal side of “Sexuality”

Wednesday, 19 November 2008 02:30

Odds are you haven’t heard the name or any of his previous work. Sébastien Tellier is a rather unknown croonie on this side of the globe, but back in his homeland France, he has been named by many one of “France’s finest”.  Ever since his 2001 debut with “L’incroyable Vérité” (The Incredible Truth), Sébastien Tellier decided to venture into the alternative music world. Although he is predominantly on the “electronica” side of the spectrum, he doesn’t believe in limitations and has experimented with pretty much everything: from acoustic to electro and from lo-fi electronica to bizarre cabaret tunes. While not a total prodigious musical phenomenon, Sébastien Tellier is still a force to be reckoned with.  

Sexuality

After two successful albums under his belt, Sébastien Tellier returns to the music scene with “Sexuality”- a new album, a new-meets-old approach to music, and one hell of a producer: none other than Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo.

Don’t hold your breath just yet- if you’re expecting to hear a Daft Punk encore album, you won’t find it here. Indeed, there is no direct connection. However; the Daft Punk influence pops here and there thanks to the vintage equipment used to record “Sexuality”, the swooping and spiraling beats and the synth mastery. 

Contrary to the album title, you won’t find any racy, x-rated songs; instead Sébastien Tellier ventures to explore the ethereal side of sexuality. 

Truth of the matter is a more apt title would have been “Sensuality”. There is and there has always been a fine line between all things sexual and sensual.  Sébastien Tellier is about to step into the sexual side of the spectrum in songs such as “Pomme” in which he samples a female having an orgasm throughout the album- a tacky move under any circumstances, but it happens to work without being kitschy and embarrassing on this song. 

“Sexuality” focuses more on the act of love-making, rather than simply “effing”. And it plays out just like a love-making session- starts off slow, takes time to develop, no rush, no hurry, eroticism and romanticism collide, there’s a climax and even a song that perfectly entices the aftermath cuddling.

The album is full of surprises and unexpectedly catchy songs.  With “Sexuality”, Sébastien Tellier doesn’t deliver any Top 40 hits, but what he does deliver is quality loungey music: perfect to listen by yourself or with your peor-es-nada. 
 
Sexuality Outstanding Traxx:  Divine, L’Amour Et La Violence, Roche, Look, Manty.