Surf (RSD 2020)

Karen Dalton; on the terrace, Air have a drink with Smokey Robinson and Roger Waters; while in the kitchen, Audrey Hepburn, Dennis Wilson and Phoenix are considering a trip to the West Coast. No other alchemist could gather such precious gems with such a cohesive result. Surf is indeed much more than a covers album, it is a genuine Daho record with splashes of folk, echoes of soul, psychedelic vibes… Owning his legendary eclectism, the singer has fun letting himself go. He sings eternal classics with respect, envy, love and honesty (I Can’t Escape From You, My Girl Has Gone, Moon River), performs and records with sixteen musicians including the David Whitaker strings at Abbey Road (Glad To Be Unhappy), and also rediscovers forgotten gems (the amazing You Choose by the Pet Shop Boys). Daho is of course a pop icon, an idol who performs for ardent fans in sold-out venues, but he is also, just like you and me, a human being. Like us, he loves, falls out of love, hopes, loses himself, gets excited and, at night, alone at home, plays and hums songs that tell stories. With Surf, using the words of other songwriters, Daho reveals himself like never before. He shares his personal playlist, and offers us an intimate record full of glowing beauty and pure melancoly. A friend for our future emotions. (Matthieu Dufour)