Such a publication represents without any doubt an important goal for any artist: issuing a double album under the title "The best of" indicates, that an artistic road has been travelled, the relationship with the audience has been consolidated and his personal life has come to a certain point. Also, because a successive CD of the same title "The best of" would be rather difficult to propose, especially when an artistic product is so strongly related to the artist itself as in this case - the "person" Jean-Louis Noton. In fact, the important part of this double CD is greatly related to the personality of JLN. A clear philosophy of a simple life without distractions; an extrovert character that proposes and strongly generates expression of his musical feelings (which can clearly be seen by the very limpid and effective melodic lines); knowing that he is an accepted "personality" worldwide who expresses himself with the accordion. Noton has understood very well, that in order to survive within this musical world, it is not sufficient to be a good accordionist, but to be "someone", to have an strong and contrasting identity at times with desacrated spirit (remember the phrase: "il solo campione intergalattico in attività" - "the only intergalactic champion in activity") and often as at other times with a lot of self-humour. That Noton is a personality, cannot be denied. It can clearly be seen on the CD equipped with numerous and beautiful photos of the artist's life, and - what pleased me a lot… is the emotion in each photo, irrespective of where it was taken). The disc contains pieces that could be part varieté, part disco-dance and world music. Therefore, a good mix, above all emphasizing on the modern sounds of today, combining acoustics and electronics. But what most struck me are the disco-pieces, indeed fizzy. But, please bear in mind, in order to make this kind of music one cannot only be accordionist - but must be a very strong musical "personality" that happens to perform modern music with the accordion. Reviewed by Paolo Picchio |
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