Silencio

Laetitia Sadier continues to display admirable self-possession and subversive flair on her sophomore solo album, Silencio. Sadier’s vocals remain rooted in the syncopated stylings of Astrud Gilberto and similar bossa nova chanteuses. Her charisma here is only heightened by the deft blending of analog synthesizers and folk-jazz acoustic instrumentation. There are intriguing sonic textures galore, like the cascading electronica blips in “Between Heaven and Earth” and the rippling vibraphone in “Silent Spot.” A gliding disco groove lends “Fragment Pour le Future de L’Homme” an intoxicating kick, while “Silent Sport” dips into a spacy lounge mood. Sadier uses these shifting aural colors to frame lyrics both introspective and socially conscious in content. “The Rules of the Game,” “Ascultation to the Nation," and “There Is a Price You Pay for Freedom (And It Isn’t Security)” are among the scathing indictments of the ruling classes found here. Sadier moves between such urbane protest pieces and erotic musings like “Lightning Thunderbolt” with ease, making Silencio a multifaceted showcase for her sophisticated talents.