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Florence Joelle
Stealing Flowers
Zoltan ***1/2
There’s a great coming together of influences on the London-based Paris singer’s latest album. On the one hand there’s a bohemian bar-room vibe going on, with gypsy jazz and early rock ’n’ roll, some authentic blues harp, and even a little chanson mixed in for good measure. Think Imelda May-meets-Mina Agossi and you’re part of the way there, and there’s also a dreaminess in Joelle’s voice that’s appealingly the singer’s own style. Beautifully presented with superior graphics, good sleeve notes and cover art issued on CD as well as heavy vinyl the highlight may very well be ‘How Many Chickens Are You Missing Today?’ a protest song against the terrible discrimination and deportations in France meted out to the Roma community when Sarkozy was president of the republic. There’s a bit of jazz here and there (‘Caravan’ comes off well), and there’s a jauntiness about ‘Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t My Baby’ but all Joelle’s songs have a point delivered in a laidback manner with an eye, and an ear, for the underdog, and her tight knit band support her well. Stephen Graham
Released on Monday