Hawaï / Hawai

With their first album Hawaï, Java somehow revolutionized the traditional chanson française, introducing a singer rapping with the flow of a hip-hop MC and keeping the instruments of traditional French music: the double bass and the accordion. And not only did they invent a new musical style, but they did it with talent. Actually, their creations are more influenced by jazz and great composers like Gainsbourg or Boris Vian than pure musette; meaning that, as they do claim it in their anthem "Sex Accordéon et Alcool": "Java, c'est du rock & roll" (Java it's rock and roll music). Even though they are not technically playing rock, they have the wild and raw thing rock has in its music. Their lyrics too are well-wrought: so many cultural references and nice insights. It is not only about the rhythm and rhymes but also about what it says and how it is said. (Keep in mind that you will miss something important with this album if you do not understand French.)