Sun Nah Youn / Same Girl

Description

When her previous album “Voyage” was released, crowned with great critical and commercial success, Télérama awarded it its prestigious ffff, writing: “Delicious is the word that comes to mind when listening to Youn Sun Nah. But the young Korean is also moving, radiant, sometimes funny, always sensual and nocturnal. Her voice gives the very idea of accuracy, with trills in the high register that pierce you.” Recently decorated with the rank of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters, Youn Sun Nah is back on record with a highly anticipated new album, “Same Girl”. Surrounded by her faithful musicians, already present on the album “Voyage” - the excellent Ulf Wakenius (g), Lars Danielsson (b), Xavier Desandre-Navarre (perc) - the fiery Korean is indeed still the “same girl” and offers us a new, cohesive and intimate recording, with European, American and Asian accents. At the crossroads of jazz, pop, chanson and folk, Youn Sun Nah surprises, captures the listener, overwhelms, charms, hypnotizes. Between minimalism, restraint and exuberance, the CD is made up of a magnificent selection of eleven songs. Youn gives free rein to her unique talent, with no stylistic constraints or barriers. Thus, the jazz standard “My Favorite Things” stands alongside Metallica’s classic “Enter Sandman”, and the unsettling “Chanson d’Hélène” by Philippe Sarde - performed in French alongside narrator Roland Brival - a magnificent Korean folk song. Also worth noting are a few rarities, with the vibrant cover of Jackson C. Frank’s “My Name Is Carnival”, or the bluesy “Moondog” by Terry Cox, drummer by trade for Bowie, Elton John or Aznavour. Superb original compositions by Youn and her guitarist finally complete a vibrant whole. With her flawless technique, this supple and celestial voice, clear and precise, Youn Sun Nah flits about, spins, changes register and leaves us admiring, happy, moved, speechless. Like all those who have already seen her on stage. When “Chanson d’Hélène” plays its final notes, there is only one thing left to do: listen to the album again. Again. And always.