Track Listing

1. La Ballade Du Georges
2. La Ritournelle
3. Black Douler
4. Dixi
5. Broadway
6. Le Long De La Riviere Tendre
7. La Dolce Vita
8. Le Demon Pupkin
9. Universe
10. Fantino
11. League Chicanos
12. La Ritournelle
13. Classic
14. Bye Bye

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34465 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-18
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

I *DO* own it, and I *KNOW* it's not great.
I loved this year's French Eurovision entry - really very frothy and entertaining, lots to like. And I could see why people were drawing parallels between Sebastian Tellier and Jarvis Cocker... but it's not a comparison that bears scrutiny on musical terms. 'Universe' is a real disappointment. About half of it's instrumental - and not, alas, the kind of evocative, filmic instrumental music that an earlier reviewer suggests. It's just... well, dull, really. There's also a sore absence of melody, variation or interest in the vocal numbers. For someone so lauded, it's bland, bland, bland. Not awful or unlistenable, by any means - if you want to fill in your tax returns, it's just the ticket for not distracting you too much - but otherwise... avoid.

I don't even own it and I know it will be great
I've just been listening to Late Night Tales (Air) which features a track called "Le Long de la Riviere Tendre", which is heart achingly beautiful, but I didn't know who the track was by (since the long title took the info off the screen). Then I find that it's by the same artist who made La Ritournelle, a personal fave of last year, THEN I find out that both tracks are on a UK only CD called "Universe" - needless to say that it is now on order. If any of the remaining tracks are 1/10th as good as the 2 I mention above, then the money will be well spent. They are that good.

Stunning, beautiful and therefore essential
Created specifically for the UK, `Universe' combines the highlights from Sebastien's recent No.1 iTunes French release `Sessions' alongside the standout selections from his soundtrack to the film `Narco'.

A few of the tracks are different versions of songs that have appeared previously on his previous albums, `Politics', & `L'Incroyable Vérité ', but this is no boshed together compilation (eek!) album. In fact, to my ears, 'Universe' is without doubt his most focussed, beautiful and moving record to date and much much more than the some of its parts.

Choice tracks include `Fantino', as prominently featured in Sofia Coppola's film `Lost In Translation', and the title-track `Universe', which forms the backdrop for the climactic scene in fellow Parisians Daft Punk's forthcoming film 'Electroma.' `Black Douleur' & `La Dolce Vita' - a cover of Christophe's classic - both feature Nina Simone-esque breathy vocals and Tellier's rolling piano style.

The `Narco' tracks included here further showcase the lush & sparkling orchestration that Sebastien has practically trademarked, & which came to prominence on his timeless classic `La Ritournelle'. The hard-to-find Mr.Dan version of said track is included here alongside a "Solo Piano" version - both sounding wonderfully fresh. There's also `La Ballade Du Georges' and `Le Long De La Riviere Tendre', where warm analogue moogs combine with the trademark strings to stunning effect.

As you can probably tell I love this record and recommend it without reservation.