It would be something of an understatement to say that Barbara has influenced hordes of singers. Twenty years after the Lady in Black left us, her still-unique style, like the modernity (or the timelessness?) of her art, remains very much present. In fact, it's everywhere! And perhaps more than ever! And so, a project like Elles & Barbara attracts attention like a suspect package left on a train station platform. But all the same, it needs to be opened so that her repertoire can be brought to life and passed on; so that it can be saved from oblivion. Guided by the production work of Edith Fambuena of Les Valentins (she has also produced Daho, Higelin, Bashung, Françoise Hardy and Olivia Ruiz), Elles & Barbara gives thirteen female singers the freedom to interpret the lyrics of the untouchable vocalist as they wish. The casting is as eclectic as can be. The presence of some artists seems natural. That of others less so. Overall, they all avoid sterile imitation, but without trying any jarringly aesthetically radical departures. So it's something to be nibbled at, at random. Making use of very contemporary instrumentals, Dani provides a charming breakdown of Si la photo est bonne. And Angelique Kidjo brings a certain jovial originality to Soleil noir. Soprano Julie Fuchs attacks Göttingen with the simplest of arrangements. On Dis, quand reviendras-tu?, Nolwenn Leroy prefers to paint with darker tones where Barbara worked with pastels. Daphné does Daphné on Marienbad. Wreathed in a halo of strange tensions, Melody Gardot fascinates on C’est trop tard. And as for the untouchable Aigle noir, this one rests on the pure and unadorned voice of Juliette Armanet alone on the piano… Depending on one's relationship to each of these thirteen songs, every listener can cry scandal or applaud. In its counter-intuitive approaches, the record made a few months before by Gérard Depardieu with Gérard Daguerre is logically more daring and more gripping. But Elles & Barbara remains, nonetheless, soberly-conceived and spirited as an homage. A record which we hope will push younger listeners and newcomers to dive into the great works of Monique Serf alias Barbara... © MZ/Qobuz