Michel Houellebecq – Présence Humaine

I have just come across this Michel Houellebecq album. I have read Atomised and know a bit about Houellebecq, but this record is a bit of a mystery. Listening to the album online it doesn't seem extraordinary. Houellebecq usually is extraordinary; it is therefore habit to expect the extraordinary from him.

The French love to croon in their music, sometimes it can be punctuated by sultry dialogue.This Houellebecq record flips that premise and becomes mainly the sultry dialogue (his poetry). Of course it is vastly unfair to judge such music when I haven't taken in the lyrics. Surely the lyrics would be the main point with an album whose star is its (in)famous lyricist, not the musicians? I can translate French, but it would be a bit of a task - and they aren't supplied in English.

The music is very well structured, pleasant, easygoing, seductive, relaxing. My worry is, given the length of the album, Houellebecq's voice actually interferes with the sound. I might stick with Etienne Daho for music and regarding Houellebecq - I will read his books . . . but I am genuinely interested to hear what fans of this record like about it.

I'm going to buy this album now, Having listened to it whilst writing this it has grown on me.

I have just come across this Michel Houellebecq album. I have read Atomised and know a bit about Houellebecq, but this record is a bit of a mystery. Listening to the album online it doesn't seem extraordinary. Houellebecq usually is extraordinary; it is therefore habit to expect the extraordinary from him.

The French love to croon in their music, sometimes it can be punctuated by sultry dialogue.This Houellebecq record flips that premise and becomes mainly the sultry dialogue (his poetry). Of course it is vastly unfair to judge such music when I haven't taken in the lyrics. Surely the lyrics would be the main point with an album whose star is its (in)famous lyricist, not the musicians? I can translate French, but it would be a bit of a task - and they aren't supplied in English.

The music is very well structured, pleasant, easygoing, seductive, relaxing. My worry is, given the length of the album, Houellebecq's voice actually interferes with the sound. I might stick with Etienne Daho for music and regarding Houellebecq - I will read his books . . . but I am genuinely interested to hear what fans of this record like about it.

I'm going to buy this album now. Having listened to it whilst writing this it has grown on me.

What a shame they did not use the original picture sleeve, that one is quite ugly ! Even for back picture why did they turn it from colourful to monochrome ? Quite puzzling !