Got a Record Player? Explore These 3 Must-Hear Vinyls This Month!

From Fnac’s top ten albums this month, we’ve been particularly drawn to Sable, Fable by Bon Iver and Warm Up by Étienne de Crécy. In terms of vinyl reissues, So Many Beautiful Things by Françoise Hardy stands out.

Sable, Fable by Bon Iver

Justin Vernon, better known as Bon Iver, which is pronounced in the French way, is back with a solo project after a six-year hiatus since i,i. In the interim, he has kept busy, contributing to works by Charli XCX and Taylor Swift, the latter also collaborating with Vernon’s musical partner Aaron Dessner from The National – together they initiated the project Big Red Machine. Despite his busy schedule, Bon Iver has delved into the themes of human connections, love, heartbreak, and emotional rebirth in Sable, Fable. This album follows an EP released last autumn titled Sable, showcasing his consistent yet experimental folk style. The new album includes these tracks alongside more pop and soulful expressions, reviving the golden era of the 1980s. The album features a notable duet with Danielle Haim of the Californian sister trio Haim, in the track If Only I Could Wait.

Warm Up by Étienne de Crécy

Étienne de Crécy is a prominent name in the French Touch scene, initially gaining recognition with the duo Motorbass alongside the late Philippe Zdar. In Warm Up, Crécy collaborates with a star-studded lineup. Before handing the tracks over to mixing maestro Alex Gopher, another stalwart of the French scene, he invited contributions from Alexis Taylor of British electro group Hot Chip, folk artist Peter von Poehl, rapper Frank Leone, singer Olivia Merilahti, formerly of The Dø, and even Damon Albarn on the electrifying track Rising Soul. The album is highly melodic and serves as an excellent primer for the dance floor.

So Many Beautiful Things by Françoise Hardy

In the early 2000s, Françoise Hardy was diagnosed with cancer and, believing her time was limited, she penned one of her most beautiful songs: So Many Beautiful Things. Dedicated to her son Thomas, it reflects the message that “love is stronger than death.” This sentiment is echoed in the highly successful album of the same name, which is reissued this spring in a limited edition colored marble vinyl. With her preserved vocal tone, she blends chanson and folk with her usual elegance, collaborating with Thomas Dutronc and Benjamin Biolay for Under the Shadow of the Moon, and Perry Blake for some exquisite English tracks. The album reminds us, among her other works, of all the beautiful things Françoise Hardy has left behind.