Album Review: Christine and the Queens, Redcar Les Adorables Étoiles

French genre-bending act Christine and the Queens are back with a new name, a new album and a new theatrical show, running in Paris and London. Following two hugely successful albums, Chaleur Humaine and Chris, they surprised fans with a new single, ‘Je Te Vois Enfin’, in June, under the brand new Redcar moniker. Now, a full 13-track album, most of which is sung in Chris’ native French, has arrived.

The Redcar identity coincides with a decision by the singer to fully embrace he/him pronouns – though without any felt requirement to embody that shift via hormonal or other treatment. Ultimately, Redcar amounts to another stage in a journey with gender that places a firm emphasis on the concept of fluidity.

The aforementioned single and the equally brilliant ‘Rien Dire’ (Say Nothing)' hark back to the sophisticated pop chops and staccato rhythms that brought Chris to our attention in the first place, via the liquid brilliance of ‘Lifted’.

Much of this album, however, foregoes the otherworldly pop genius that characterises his best work, instead settling for a sometimes tinny and overly dramatic 1980s’ pop veneer that – to these ears – feels like a bit of a let-down, on tracks like ‘La Chanson Du Chevalier’ and ‘Looking For Love’, the latter coming across like a poor Roxette tribute.

Occasionally it works well: the dramatic flourishes of ‘Tu Sais Ce Qu'il Me Faut’ aren’t unlike Annie Lennox in her pomp, while the mid-paced melodrama of ‘Combien De Temps’ is hypnotically appealing, although at over eight and a half minutes, it loses its momentum – and, like much of the album, ultimately leaves this listener disappointed.

Score: 6/10
Listen: ‘Rien Dire’

Out now via Because Music.