So bold, so adventurous and so expertly crafted, Paradigmes is a daring feat that feels like the culmination of all their prior releases.
Paradigmes is an album that, whilst recalling a concession of progenitors, has no modern-day comparison.
With the age of the inward looking lockdown album now upon us, Paradigmes comes at a perfect time, it’s equal parts silly, serious, camp, and on occasion mildly ridiculous, but remains wildly inventive throughout, it’s one hell of a party.
A completely entrancing exercise in how to craft the most hypnotic electro-pop possible.
La Femme's passion for seeking out new (or vintage) sounds to add to their omnivorous pop is contagious, and never more so than on Paradigmes.
An album of expertly-curated electropop where Old Europe and the New World collide ... Paradigmes is an exemplar of 21st century French pop.
The French psych rockers’ send-up of mythic American road trip fantasies is undeniably fun, even if the humor and hooks don’t approach anything like real insight.
La Femme toss so many weird and interesting ideas against the wall, that for every gorgeous moment that sticks, there’s an awkward miss.
FIRST LISTEN: Although some songs might sound like an 80s advert in places, Paradigmes is an incredibly fun and refreshing take on the Western pop genre which other nations could learn a lesson or two from. Proper tunes to dance to.
Top Three Tracks: Foutre le bordel, Pasadena, Disconnexion
For Fans Of: House parties in college at art schools.
An album full of sounds of enchantment and fantasy. I felt like I was on a journey to places I've never been to before. Some songs with too much energy to dance all night, others too subtle that feel like touching satin fabric with your fingers. Great variety of sounds, very artistic and romantic.
Gonna have to check the list, but I think this barely cracks my top 10 list of my favorite French Synthpop albums.
1 | Paradigme 3:36 | 94 |
2 | Le sang de mon prochain 3:29 | 80 |
3 | Cool Colorado 3:52 | 75 |
4 | Foutre le bordel 2:09 | 72 |
5 | Nouvelle-Orléans 3:53 | 91 |
6 | Pasadena 3:48 | 91 |
7 | Lâcher de chevaux 2:31 | 81 |
8 | Disconnexion 3:21 | 90 |
9 | Foreigner 3:32 | 89 |
10 | Force & respect 2:08 | 77 |
11 | Divine créature 5:07 | 78 |
12 | Mon ami 2:37 | 76 |
13 | Le jardin 4:00 | 90 |
14 | Va 4:19 | 78 |
15 | Tu t'en lasses 6:02 | 80 |
#5 | / | Sound Opinions: Jim DeRogatis |
#10 | / | Les Inrocks |
#12 | / | KCRW |