St. Germain

"House rhythms are largely absent, replaced by a blend of jazz rhythms and Malian instrumentation ... As with Tourist, it's possible to feel these combinations are a little too smooth; it's also possible to feel uneasy about a white European appropriating black musical styles. But Navarre is clearly a conscientious producer with an ear for detail, and in the case of the almost free-jazz Hanky Panky, the music here is rich indeed".

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"Perhaps if Navarre had returned circa 2007, these hybrids would sound revelatory. But much like his fellow countrymen Daft Punk did in RAM, he has dismissed loops and sampling out of hand for something more "organic" and "real", and in the process he has turned his back on his greatest strength. The result sounds like something that's already been comp'ed to death by Putumayo".

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""Real Blues" slår klo i Lightning Hopkins og etablerer som "How Dare You" med sampling af R.L. Burnsides "Nightmare Blues" forbindelsen mellem amerikansk og afrikansk blues ... Programmering møder Mali-sang og traditionelle instrumenter som kora og n'goni, med mindre sampling og mere rigtig musik end i den gamle opskrift. Kan "St. Germain" gøre for Mali-musikken, hvad "Tourist" [2000] gjorde for jazzen? Lukke den ind i cafémiljøet? Mali fortjener en hjælpende hånd, men "St. Germain" lyder mere semiautentisk end cool".

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