Even before being released, both physically and digitally, Orelsan's fourth album had already hit the phenomenal 50,000 sales figure. A gold record even before being available,
Civilization
is the phenomenon of this end of the year. The first track unveiled,
The Odor of Gasoline,
was released on Wednesday, just two days before the 14 other tracks. Exceptionally powerful punch,
The Odor of Gasoline
is not the most representative of a record that looks like a transitional album. The 30-year-old, who will celebrate his 40th birthday next year, is sailing between two fires on the record. The frenzied humor of his old songs isgradually erased to the detriment of more committed and more personal titles.
Read alsoOrelsan, neither simple nor basic, on Amazon Prime Video
Former gang leader, the man presents himself today as an adult in a relationship, struggling with the difficulties of the time.
The pen is always alert.
We have not yet found, in French rap, an author so capable of sketching the absurdity of life and society.
Without proposing solutions, nor piling up the annoyances, Orelsan puts his rather disillusioned gaze.
Manifeste
is as such one of the key pieces of the disc, between protest and sentimental questioning.
Stylistically, we go from the modern radicality of
The Odor of the Essence
to a candy like
Jour Meilleur,
which flirts dangerously with sentimentality, just like
La Quête,
embarrassingly naive. On Twitter, this hilarious message:
"Not bad the new Bigflo and Oli".
Orelsan's writing bridges these different atmospheres, but the album multiplies stylistic leaps too much, which dilutes its effectiveness. The reunion with Gringe, on
Casseurs Flowters Infinity,
is introduced by a lucid message from Orelsan:
“I'm making an album about my girl and society”
. Their song, deliberately light, recalls the early Orelsan.
"It will never be consistent."
And then there is
Bébéboa,
which is already the subject of heated debates on social networks.
Or a funny piece, in which the narrator tells of his wife's alcoholism in unpleasant terms.
We have the right to be embarrassed.
Regularly inspired,
Civilization
is too dispersed to be completely convincing.
And the album is above all much too long.
Pity.
[This article was originally published on Saturday, November 19]
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