Francois and the Atlas Mountains - Plaine Inondable

(Fence)

Lest we require confirmation that King Creosote’s DIY commonwealth, Fence, is as universal as it is diverse, herein saunters Plaine Inondable – the year’s gentlest Gallic-pop coup – in the nick of time.

Francois Marry – touring member of Camera Obscura and ludicrously charming lo-fi virtuoso – has made several lovely low-key records (especially the knockout ‘Night Lights’, which pisses all over Bon Iver’s parade), but Plaine Inondable sees the bilingual lyricist and multi-instrumentalist amplify his charms.

Highlights include the totally tropical lilt of ‘Remind’, while ‘Years of Rain’ authenticates Francois as the gorgeous spawn of Serge Gainsbourg, Philip Glass and Pink Floyd.