On My Mind

Fabienne Delsol’s third album On My Mind provides much the same pay-off as her first two solo albums and her work as bassist and singer in the Bristols. That is to say, if you like albums that combines beat-group snappy songs with moody French atmospheres, you’re in luck. Delsol sings like she’s an old pal of Françoise Hardy, the album was recorded in Liam Watson’s Toerag time machine studio (with the dial stuck between 1964 and 1965) and the songs as written (mostly) by her guitarist Thomas Gardener are ringers for tracks on a really good Beat, Freakbeat, or British Psych comp. It’s a formula that could sound tired if not done perfectly; Delsol and her crew do it perfectly. The mix of uptempo rockers, dreamy ballads, and gently psychedelic songs is just right; Delsol can sing each style like it was second nature. The musicians play their parts just right too, never doing anything flashy but instead hanging back and giving Delsol's voice the full spotlight. While many have tried to channel this era and this sound, few have done it with the style and grace of Delsol. You can’t go wrong with any recording she’s done, but On My Mind may just be the best thing she’s done so far.