In recent years, Quentin Dupieux has emerged more as a filmmaker with a whimsical, surrealistic sense of humour. The question of whether films like »The Guard«, »Monsieur Killerstyle« or »MandiblesG«, his most recent cinema production, are black comedies or conceptual art has always remained open. Now we have fresh news from the musician Dupieux, as usual under the guise of Mr. Oizo. A brief reminder: in 1999, as a producer known only to an expert audience, the Frenchman accomplished the feat of getting his »Flat Beat« into a worldwide Levi’s advertising campaign – few tracks have ever generated so much international attention for electronic dance music. Anyone who has been paying attention to Mr. Oizo’s output since then should not be surprised that his seventh studio album, »Voilá«, does not feature a successor to this spectacular coup. The presumed message: one world hit is enough for me. Important, in contrast, as ever: the oddball reference to sample-based, groove-dominated dancefloor and club music genres. Now more than ever, the nine new tracks focus on hip-hop. Instead of a whole sack full of features like last time, Mr. Oizo relies completely on the Italian rapper Francesco Barbaglia alias Phra here, who already featured on »All Wet« in 2016. His lyrics, as in the opener »Foie Gras«, often combine sexual innuendo with menu lyricism, and his flow tends to be more sedate than light. Dupieux’s sampling seems careless as usual, but less random than in the past: »experimental« remains the exception, digital electro(nical) the rule. Overall vibe: summer, sun, beach. »Hot In Her« triggers memories of Nelly’s 2002 super hit in equal measure as it »works« as a parody of contemporary R&B beach party stereotypes. Other highlights: »Date 2« and – allergy warning: wanton autotune overdose – »Easyjet« and »Hits Me«. Despite short playtimes, the tracks curiously still manage to seem »too long« at times. The short playtimes are compensated for by the fact that all the pieces are sloppily edited instrumentals. Dada aspirations and pop appeal go hand in hand.
Voila
