“Histoires D’Eau” is an enchanting release featuring sultry female vocals and mostly French lyrics. The atmosphere is one of compromised beauty as san.drine moves effortlessly from stylish trip-pop to darker, almost illbient, work. [..]
“Aller Vers Demain ” [is] an eerie gem that would surely grace the soundtrack of many a film. This track reminds one a little of Lamb’s work and the contrast between the uneasy verse parts and inspirational choruses is priceless.
Histoires d'Eau is Swiss chanteuse san.drine's debut release. Influenced by the trip-hop sounds of Lamb, the cool aesthetic of Dido, and the europop sensibilities of Telopopmusik, san.drine has crafted captivating album full of catchy melodies and hip, cool ambience.
While many of the tracks contain French lyrics, this feature only adds to the exotic appeal of the album.
Vocally, san.drine shares some similarities with world-famous French diva Mylene Farmer and neo-folkster Keren Ann--all three have that clear yet intimately breathy style that resonates sweetly in the ear.
Musically, the tracks on Histoires range from trippy chill numbers to drum & bass to strong europop. Throughout, san.drine's melodies and vocals remain consistently entrancing.
By surrounding herself with talents like producer/programmer Christian "wicked" Wicht, well-known mixmaster Bitstream Dream, Angina P, Govinda, Heckle & Jive and Summer Kelly, san.drine has ensured the creation! of a beautifully rendered album that easily stands with the best downtempo/electronica albums around.
The sexy "Les Larmes d'Isis (Govinda Mix) " is a groove filled spacy track comparable to Vanessa Daou's best work while "Dis-Moi " is an insanely hooky track with a lumbering beat and pitch-perfect melody.
The sensual "Ramene-Moi " is a darkly seraphic piece of music that uses understated acoustic guitar and subtle percussion to highlight Sandrine's delicious vocals. Part folk, part electronic, "Ramene-Moi " is one of those rare songs that lingers in the heart and mind.
"Atlantiques " is a strong upbeat dance number that pulses with joyous energy. Far from being a standard "trance/club" track, san.drine has imbued this number with incredible soul and power.
"Aller Vers Demain " pulsates at a mid-tempo rate, accentuating san.drine's intimate and ruminating vocals.
Again, san.drine shows she is a master of mood nuance, creating images of a mysterious Parisian night. "Eclipse " will definitely appeal to fans of Balligomingo with its expansive sonic palette and ethereal vocals.
The swirling beats and aquatic patina of "Still Breathing " draws favorable comparison to the best work of the Solar Twins.
Proving herself to be a striking vocalist and songwriter, san.drine is definitely an artist to watch. It is apparent that she has invested a great amount of artistry and passion into the music--and this honesty and freshness cannot help but resonate with the listener. We are thrilled to witness the arrival of such an exceptional artist. [...]
Here’s a personal tip for you! This is one of the best CDs from my private collection. I couldn’t give a better recommendation!
Mein ganz persönlicher Tipp für euch! Eine der besten CDs aus meiner privaten Sammlung. Eine bessere persönliche Empfehlung kann ich nicht geben!
This is a strong debut album from a clearly talented singer/songwriter. Sandrine Ligabue has recently appeared on albums by Sleepthief, Govinda and Suisse Modular. San.drine is joined here on her own release by Govinda (who remixes the opening track), Bitstream Dream, Christian "wicked" Wicht, Angina P, Heckle & Jive and Summer Kelly along with a number of other musicians.
The different styles all seem to suit San.drine's sultry vocal approach, my personal favourite being the almost ambient, cinematic soundscaping of Aller Vers Demain where distorted percussion and glowing synthetics work in achingly beautiful juxtaposition against soothing, half whispered words and melancholy chorus.
